It takes a village to raise a child. Children should be able to grow up and recognize the importance of community because of all the love and support that surrounds them. Before the age of fourteen, half of all mental problems are developed and boys are not always aware of what they can do to improve their mental health. Playing sports is one of the many impactful outlets. Ahead of the Game helps athletes gain a better understanding of mental health issues and provides them with mental health strategies. Firstly, Movember is an international charity aimed at mental fitness and preventing suicide in males. One of their Australian based programs is Ahead of the Game which:
- Explores mental fitness and resilience
- Creates a supportive environment for young athletes
- Teaches parents and sports coaches how to spot signs of poor mental health
- Provides teenage boys with tools to help deal with and overcome challenges
- Demonstrates efficacy and carries no evidence of harm
Furthermore, It has been demonstrated that Ahead of the Game increases wellbeing and resilience among adolescent boys. A training course was conducted which was the biggest study of its kind in the world. Most importantly, over the course of a season, it tested 350 boys between the ages of twelve and eighteen across soccer, rugby league, and swimming. Outcomes for those who took part:
- Demonstrated a better understanding of what mental health is
- Had greater intentions to help others who have a mental health problem
- Were more confident about seeking help themselves if they needed to
In addition, adolescents who participate in sports reduce their risk for mental health problems by 10 to 20 percent compared with those who drop out. “Sport is a really great way of engaging young men. It’s not school for a start, which is really important to them,” says Dr. Vella, the principal investigator of the study and Senior Lecturer in UOW’s School of Psychology. For instance, Young men need to be provided with different tools to help them face challenges, and doing it through sports is one of the best ways to help. Also, Ahead of the Game has attracted worldwide attention and opportunities including:
- Hockey clubs in Toronto
- Pilots with grassroots rugby union clubs in the UK
- Partnership with the Rugby League World Cup 2021
Because of the great impact this program has had, Movember has helped it expand to other countries including Canada and the UK.
In conclusion, mental health problems are no longer something that athletes have to deal with alone. It is programs like Ahead of the Game that set the tone and hopefully inspire others to find new ways to support boys’ mental health. Everything it represents not only helps boys improve athletically, but also helps them build resilience. Moreover, this is something that will always be important when it comes to life challenges and any issues they may face. Boys need more communities that will support them and who they are becoming. Mirage News. “New Research Shows Sports-Based Resilience Training Improves Mental Health in Teen Boys.” Mirage News, Mirage News, 9 Feb. 2021,