Former Newcastle Falcon talks candidly about mental health

Men in the North East are being encouraged to talk openly about their mental health and break the taboo around it.

With rising levels of anxiety and depression, former Newcastle Falcons and England centre Tom May is directing people to a 24-hour-online therapy service from MindSpace247.

He said:

“Coming from the world of professional sport, I understand the link between physical and mental health.

"Having made the transition away from rugby in 2015, I am fully aware of the impact mental health can have, no matter who you are.

"There are so many simple actions that we can take, to help our everyday wellbeing, both from a physical and mental standpoint, but there are also times when you need outside support.

“Instead of letting everything build up, pick up the phone. You can speak or Zoom a qualified BACP therapist or counsellor day or night, It’s confidential and you don’t need to see a GP.

"From my own experience, I know that this stuff should not be ignored. We need to be more open to talking about our emotions. It’s not something to be afraid of.”

Tom, who won two caps in his rugby union career for England in 2009, has since transitioned to the business world and has worked in the media with BT Sport, TalkSport and Sky Sports.

He has personally raised more than £110,000 for charity; including The Tom May Cycle Challenge. He cycled from Kingston Park to Premiership rugby clubs across England and finished at Twickenham for Teenage Cancer. He more recently ran the London Loop, which is six marathons in six days.

Scottish entrepreneur and British businessman Barney Battles approached the former Newcastle Falcon to be an ambassador for MindSpace 247 to show the importance of “talking” and not bottling up emotions - from anxiety, relationship stress, money worries, addictions, body dysmorphia, bereavement, exam stress, loneliness and the fallout of Covid 19.

They are keen to emphasise that the on-line therapy service is not a crisis line like The Samaritans, but instead it is an immediate appointment to talk directly to a highly qualified therapist from the comfort of your own home or workplace, without a long GP waiting list or referral. Confidential appointments can be made by telephone or Zoom.

Dr Arthur Cassidy, a respected chartered psychologist and mental health practitioner said:

“I see psychological distress and mental health breakdown constantly in my clinic, however the recent research by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and other learned bodies, show us that we are predicting a massive upsurge in mental health displacement breakdown.

"Without intervention, this is going to promote poor GP waiting lists and the longer the lists become, the more psychological distress there will be.”