The Leeds United Foundation will launch a new set of sessions for participants wanting to join their Fit Minds initiative.

Fit Minds is a free 12-week mental health support programme being delivered at Elland Road by coaches from the club’s official charity. The programme aims to help people in the local community who are struggling with stress and anxiety, all over the age of 18, through the delivery of workshops and activities that support individual needs.

Weekly sessions for participants, both male and female, will take place in the coming weeks on a weekday evening at the stadium from 6pm to 7pm.

The 12-week course will be split into two, with six sessions based around mental health workshops that will focus on coping methods and techniques for various stresses and anxieties, whilst also looking at lifestyle habits and changes that could help improve your mental health. With the remaining six sessions based around physical activity, encouraging participants to try new things and give them the opportunity to work on new forms of exercise that could help relieve stress.

The key with the Fit Minds initiative is to use the dedicated coaches that are on hand to support you, offer advice and listen to any problems you may be going through. Although the sessions are only weekly, they are contactable throughout the week for members that require extra support or someone to speak to.

A previous Fit Minds participant has spoken about their experience on the programme and said: “Attending the session each week really gave me something to look forward to, the group were always so welcoming and friendly. It was especially nice to experience different types of physical activity and the staff were very supportive and really listened to the groups needs.

“The first session I was really nervous about attending, but the coaches made me feel very welcome straight away and they made sure I was excited to come back every week.”

The launch of this next cohort for Fit Minds coincides perfectly with the upcoming annual event, World Mental Health Day, which will take place on Sunday 10th October. World Mental Health Day is an international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigmas surrounding the topic. Mental health is something that should be recognised every day, and by joining the Fit Minds programme you are ensuring that you are finally looking after your own mental health.

For further information on the Fit Minds programme or any of the other mental health and wellbeing initiatives being delivered within the Foundation, please contact [email protected].