Leeds United invited veteran and Leeds United Foundation participant Simon Brown to Thorp Arch recently to recognise World Mental Health Day with the support of Max Wöber and Leeds United Women’s Manager Simon Wood.
First-team star Wöber was on hand during the international break to meet with Simon, who he had previously met at Elland Road back in 2023 during a visit with our Combat Café for Mental Health Awareness Week, and the 26-year-old was eager to catch up and show him around the training ground.
During the tour, Simon and Max spoke about all that Simon had been through, the mental health struggles he had faced and how he came out the other side through the support from other people, with Max in turn discussing the ups and downs in the world of football, including facing long spells on the sidelines injured and isolated from the rest of the squad and taking on the pressures of social media, negativity and even receiving threats from supporters and people online.
Following the tour around the training facilities, Simon Wood who also leads the Health and Wellbeing department at the club’s official charity, walked side by side with Simon (Brown) around the pitches at Thorp Arch as they chatted at length about his background with the military and his experiences over the 13 years, especially the toll it took mentally and psychologically on him and those around him. Simon was also physically injured, losing his left eye totally and 75% of his sight in his right eye.
The pair go on to discuss the dark days he suffered and what eventually helped him to see a brighter future – specifically the power of talking and allowing himself to be supported by others whilst also challenging the demons he had.
Simon has been attending the weekly Combat Café sessions with the Foundation over the past few seasons and has found comfort in speaking to and helping other veterans who have similar lived experiences to him, and he holds real value in making sure people feel heard.
The key messages throughout the discussion were around knowing that there is someone for everyone to talk to, everyone suffers with bad days and it is ensuring that those bad days don’t turn into bad weeks, bad months and bad years. Make sure that you are checking in on those around you, and that you are listening to what they are really saying.
You can watch the full chat between Simon and Simon, here.
The Leeds United Foundation deliver a number of different initiatives that can help support your health and mental wellbeing and you can find out more information about those here. However, if you ever feel like you need someone to speak with, but don’t know if you fit into any of the programmes mentioned, please still get in touch with our Health and Wellbeing team for support, as there is always someone willing to help and listen. You can contact [email protected] for any support.
Alternatively, if you need to chat to anyone please consider the below options:
NHS Emergency – 999
Mind – 0300 102 124 / Open 9am-6pm weekdays
Samaritans – 116 123 / Always Open
Andy’s Man Club – [email protected]
Campaign Against Living Miserably – 0800 585858 / Open 5pm-midnight