Photo Credit: Professional Cricketers’ Association
Partners back groundbreaking initiative to support players’ mental health.
The PCA is to deliver groundbreaking game-wide educational workshops to all professional cricketers in England and Wales to address the role that social media plays in mental health, with 27 partner businesses joining forces to support the initiative.
In response of an upsurge in PCA members reporting instances of online hate, seminars will be delivered to all professional squads from August onwards. The education will highlight the impact on mental health from abuse, overuse and addiction on social media. The aim is to educate players on coping mechanisms and strategies.
Sessions will be exercise-led, encouraging players to openly discuss the pros and cons of social media, and how various platforms affect their mental wellbeing. Each session will incorporate videos from current and former international and domestic players who openly discuss their relationship with social media whilst providing advice for their peers.
A successful pilot workshop was held in May with sessions to be led in person by specialists in this area in the form of PCA Personal Development Manager (PDM) Nick Denning and Head of Education at Sporting Chance Alex Mills, with input from numerous industry experts.
An important topic in the context of the stresses and pressures of being a professional athlete in the modern era, the player-focused initiative is being supported and funded by a group of 27 businesses including many established PCA commercial partners.
“Whilst we acknowledge that social media can be hugely positive and powerful when used responsibly, it’s important that the PCA educates its members on the potential pitfalls and dangers that come with these platforms.”
NICK DENNING, PCA PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
As part of the PDWP, the PCA already offers its members comprehensive social media advice and support, which will be complimented by the new initiative which has a specific focus on the effects of social media on mental health.
PCA Personal Development Manager Nick Denning said: “Whilst we acknowledge that social media can be hugely positive and powerful when used responsibly, it’s important that the PCA educates its members on the potential pitfalls and dangers that come with these platforms.
“Sporting Chance are leaders in the field of mental health in sport, so expanding our relationship with them into educating members on the impacts of social media on mental health is a progressive step. I look forward to delivering this first-of-its-kind initiative with support from Sporting Chance and PCA partners.”
PCA Commercial Operations Lead Richard Morris said: “The support of our partner businesses is vital in helping to fund the important work that we deliver on behalf of our members. We thank the 27 businesses who have supported this important piece of work and we hope it will have a positive impact on our members’ mental wellbeing.”
The PCA would like to thank the following businesses for supporting this initiative: Argentex, Ashurst, Automotive Paint Supplies, Barrington Ayre, Bevan Brittan, Civils and Lintels, Financial Times, Finders Keepers, Goodform, Grant Thornton, Holdsworth Financial, Impulse Decisions, Infinity Works, Kerry London, Lodders, Lucidica, Michael Reed Wealth Management, Mortgage Force, New Balance, Northern Trust, Pearlfinders, Polypipe, Robinson Manufacturing, Robin Stanton-Gleaves, Serious Cricket, Showpiece Design, TMB Events.
Find out more about the PCA’s Personal Development and Welfare Programme.
Name of Author: Professional Cricketers Association
The Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), founded in 1967 by former England fast bowler Fred Rumsey as the Cricketers’ Association, represents past and present first-class cricketers in England and Wales. In the 1970s, the PCA established a standard employment contract and minimum wage for professional cricketers. It also helped create a pension scheme in 1995 and launched the magazine All Out Cricket and the ACE UK Educational Programme in 2002.
