Adam Forshaw recently took part in an online Zoom session with the Leeds United Foundation and Sharp Lane Primary School to discuss the effects of lockdown on our mental health.
The club’s official charity delivers weekly sessions with young students throughout Leeds school as part of the Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS) initiative, covering a range of important topics such as mental health and wellbeing, along with a number of other subjects, engaging children in their schoolwork through the power of sport and Leeds United.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, youngsters all over the world have been affected by the various restrictions that have been put in place, disrupting their education, and keeping them apart from friends and family – causing a number of different affects on their mental health.
To help support them and encourage them to talk about their feelings and reach out for help if needed, especially if they are feeling down, the Leeds United midfielder wanted to join one of their PLPS sessions to have a discussion and answer any questions that could hopefully help them and allow them to focus on something exciting.
The young pupils asked how the 29-year-old had coped himself through the lockdowns, activities he thought helped to keep you busy and how to deal with difficult moments such as his recent injury. The children loved the chance to speak to one of their footballing heroes, preparing questions ready to meet Adam and finding out more about his career and future ambitions as well.
Adam Forshaw spoke to LUTV following the session and said: “The lockdowns we’ve all been through have really tested people and it’s definitely been testing mental health and it’s something that does need addressing.
“Hopefully if I can help to inspire, even if it was just one or two of them today, if they’ve been in a bit of a rut and if what I’ve said, or my visit has allowed them to focus on something else or given them a lift then I’ve done my job.
“I said a few times to the kids that it’s really important to share your feelings with people you feel most comfortable with, for me that’s my wife but it could be a friend, parent, colleague, teacher – sometimes leaning on someone can be a helping hand, there’s a saying ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ and I think definitely when you talk about things it can make a situation easier.”
If you would like more information on the work being done through the Premier League Primary Stars programme on topics such as mental health and wellbeing, please contact [email protected].
To take a look at the video edit from the session with Sharp Lane Primary School please click here.
