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Footballer's Grief Fuels Mental Health Workshops
27 Feb
Summary
- Footballer Will Vaulks uses personal tragedy to champion mental health.
- Vaulks leads community mental health workshops in Oxford schools.
- Campaign aims to challenge mental health stigma and save lives.
Will Vaulks, an Oxford United midfielder and former Wales international, is spearheading crucial mental health awareness initiatives. Driven by the profound grief of losing his grandfathers and other community members to suicide, Vaulks is determined to make a difference.
He is currently leading community mental health workshops in schools across Oxfordshire. These sessions aim to destigmatize mental health issues and encourage vulnerability, fostering environments where individuals feel safe to discuss their struggles and seek help.
Vaulks recently received the Fifpro Players Voice award for his mental health advocacy. He is channeling the associated funding into local workshops, including a significant session scheduled for March 17 at the Kassam Stadium as part of the club's 'Can We Talk?' campaign.
His efforts extend beyond Oxford, as he encourages other football clubs to adopt similar mental health pledges. Vaulks believes that open conversations, even simple check-ins between friends, can be life-saving interventions.
