Whether you play or not, Rugby League can help with your mental health

Offload is a 10-week men’s mental fitness programme that aims to challenge how the sporting world tackles issues like anxiety and depression.

Devised by Rugby League Cares and the Leeds Rhinos, it’s currently available to all Carnegie School of Sport and Athletic Union students across both campuses and has already helped thousands of men across the country. 

Find out more about Offload from Programme Leader Sam Horner from Leeds Rhinos Foundation and LBU Mental Health Practitioner Freyja Douglas-McTurk.

Can you talk about the aims of the programme?

Freyja: “As a mental health professional, and as part of the Student Wellbeing Service, we are acutely aware that some groups of students can find it more challenging to access support than others. We want, along with Offload, to break down these barriers to support. 

The difficulties that men might have in reaching out for support can be explained by a range of reasons – but we might think about stigma, perceptions of mental health, social expectations, and traditional gender roles, to name a few. 

We often think about how stereotypes negatively impact women, but we know that same is true for men too. We know that men are less likely to seek help for mental health difficulties than women and can be more likely to use unhelpful coping strategies like drugs and alcohol.

Research though shows that where interventions are tailored for men and suit their preferences, they are more likely to engage with support. This is where programmes like Offload, which is specifically for men, can be so valuable.”

How can Offload help everyone who takes part?

Sam: “It’s not just for people who have real bad problems, it’s as much around education and prevention. Prevention is always better than the cure, so we’re getting out that positive message about looking out for the signs and looking out for your mates too. 

“It’s not just about you, it’s about recognising that people around you might have problems. And that’s the toolkit we’re giving you that can actually help themselves and others.”

What can students expect on the programme?

Sam: “We bring in deliverers for the sessions who are generally ex-Rugby League players who have gone through adversity themselves and have got some great stories to tell. They’re good role models in the way they’ve been professional sports people, but they’re not frightened of telling you that it’s okay to talk. 

“Their adversity resonates through the group, because they are very honest and straight talking, but also they’re supported by the groundwork that’s been done to ensure that we have a professional programme. The messages are underwritten by top mental health people and are so powerful and well-recognised.”

What advice would you give to students who are thinking about joining?

Sam: “Offload is a safe place for you. It’s not about guys sat around crying all day – it’s about education and being with people and learning off each other. Mental health shouldn’t be a taboo. You’ve got physical health that everyone can see, you can’t see mental health, but it still needs training too. 

“The hardest part is stepping through that door. Once you’ve stepped through the door, you’ll learn so much about yourself and those around you, so don’t be afraid to come along.”

Will students still be supported once the programme ends?

Sam: “That is the legacy of Offload. We have WhatsApp groups full of different people we’ve helped. This programme isn’t just for 10 weeks. That legacy support is massive. It’s about meeting and having a butty, making sure people are alright, sending a text and checking up on a friend. That’s what it’s all about."

What are your plans for Offload in the future?

Freyja: “We would love to see as many of our students as possible benefit from the Offload programme. Our hope is that we can expand to several groups and open up to other students who may benefit.

For more information on Offload and details on how you can sign up, click here.