One in five Australians experiences mental ill-health every year. With so few Australians seeking professional help for mental ill-health, it’s more important than ever to ensure your players, members and parents feel safe, connected and supported.

Mental wellness is not something that has typically been on the radar of clubs, but several high profile athletes have recently revealed their battles with mental health issues, and sports administrators are looking for ways to act.

The sporting environment hasn’t always been one that encourages this level of openness when it comes to mental health. It has often been seen as a place where vulnerability is a sign of weakness and a mental health condition as a private battle to be fought but not spoken about.

Perhaps not surprisingly, sporting teams who have embraced vulnerability and open dialogue around mental health have often enjoyed better on-field results.