| It's a Goal! at Macclesfield Town FC |
 Bringing back hope - the project manager's view...Meet psychiatric nurse Pete Sayers who will be running the workshops for young men with depression. Pete has worked for mental health services in Macclesfield for 28 years and is looking forward to working outside of the clinical environment. He is all too aware that although depressed or suicidal people are registered with their GP or are referred to see a specialist at the hospital many of them fail to keep their appointments. Pete supports the work of doctors but he is convinced that "It's a Goal!" will help to raise self esteem and bring some hope and excitement back into people's lives. Teams will meet with Pete each session at the Silkmen's McIlroy Suite and although the project is aimed at young men, women are welcome. Macclesfield Town will be thought of as the home ground, members will be signed to play each week and goals will be set. But despite the terminology the project is not about playing football. Pete said: "It is a possibility, and playing could be introduced at some stage. But more than anything it is about getting these people together and raising their self esteem." "I am very passionate about raising mental health issues within the community. I think that mental health often gets a bad press." "Women are much better at talking about things than men and that is where the problem lies. As a kid, if I went into my home crying that somebody had hit me, my dad would have chucked me back out and told me to sort it myself." "Men are encouraged not to share things but to brave it out. What we are saying is that we can talk." "This programme encompasses a lot of what I am used to doing. It draws together my work with my passion as I love football." By Sophie Hazan Published in the Macclesfield Express on Wednesday February 25, 2004 and reproduced here with their kind permission. |
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