Sale Sharks join mental health fight

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sale Sharks have appointed their first-ever mental health lead, becoming the first Premiership club to officially partner up with the mental health movement.

Eddie Owen – who is already the Mental Wellbeing Manager of the Sale Sharks Foundation – will take up the role.

As a result of the partnership, Sale Sharks will support Wilmslow-based LooseHeadz with their mission to tackle the stigma around mental health, and place a mental-health lead – known as a ‘LooseHead’ in every club.

“LooseHeadz is doing some amazing work and I’m honoured to have the chance to support that within our club," Owen said.

"Our player and staff all have mental health and we all need to check in with each other and support other."

Sale Sharks CEO Sid Sutton said: “We know that the mental health and well-being of our players and staff is every bit as important as their physical condition when it comes to making sure they are ready to perform at their very best on and off the pitch.

“But more importantly than that, we want to create an environment where our players and staff become better people during their time here, and feel supported in every aspect of their lives.

“We want to be so much more than a rugby club and the partnership with LooseHeadz is a perfect way to make an impact both at home and further afield in our communities.

“The LooseHeadz team has ambitious targets and we’re really excited to see how we can support them to make as big an impact as possible in rugby clubs and beyond.”

Co-founder of LooseHeadz Rob Shotton said “LooseHeadz was born out of a conversation right here in the North West of England so we’re delighted to be working with the club to further our mission of placing a mental health lead at every rugby club.

“The three co-founders of LooseHeadz are all Sale Sharks supporters so this is partnership is a special one and we can’t wait to get started!”