Brentford create space for mental health conversations with community benches | OneFootball

Brentford FC is installing a collection of benches in west London to encourage its community to open up about mental health.

With the first installed in time for World Mental Health Day on Friday 10 October, the benches are being placed in parks local to the club’s home at Gtech Community Stadium as part of Brentford’s ‘Talking is the Best Tactic’ campaign, which is aimed at getting people to take time to talk to one another about their mental health.

Each bench, delivered in partnership with London Borough of Hounslow, will include information signposting to professional mental health support services, as well as crisis support for those experiencing a mental health emergency.

The use of benches to create space for important conversations is inspired by the work of Brentford’s sports psychologist, Michael Caulfield, who installed the seats at the club’s training ground to give players, coaches and staff a safe, confidential place to talk.

The benches at the facility have had a significant impact on the players who have used them as a space to pause and have meaningful conversations with Michael, or simply to sit and reflect in peace.

Speaking at Robin Grove Recreation Ground, the site of the first community bench to be installed, Michael said: “The bench has been placed in the community where anyone walking past can sit and just have a chat. They can turn to the person next to them, if it’s someone they love or a stranger, ask how it’s going and start a conversation.

“Nothing else is more important in life than having these conversations. You can’t get through anything in isolation. Any private problem can only begin to be solved by talking to someone else. Being outside is crucial. You can have a better level of conversation than inside.”

Brentford attacking midfielder Fábio Carvalho also attended the opening and agreed that having open conversations is important for everyone, including professional footballers.

He said: “Everyone needs someone that they can speak to openly, to not feel judged in a way where they can’t be honest about what they’re going through, or what they really want to say. In a football environment, it’s especially crucial because there’s so much that comes with football.

“Football’s amazing. It’s done amazing things for me and my family. But being able to have that open conversation when things aren’t going the way you want them to go, I think it’s beneficial both on and off the pitch.”

Fábio was keen to encourage anybody to find a place where they can have meaningful conversations about their mental health: “Being able to have an open conversation goes a long way. I’d say just give it a try if you’re comfortable and see if it’s for you.”

More Brentford FC benches will be at sites across west London in Lampton Park and Strand on the Green Recreation Ground, as well as Carville Hill Park and Waterman’s Park, both of which are close to Gtech Community Stadium and frequently used by fans walking to home matchdays.

Robin Grove Park is also the site of the recently opened Brentford FC Orchard, planted by the club to nurture biodiversity in the community and create habitats for pollinators, such as bees and other insects.

To further support the club’s sustainability work, flower beds have been planted next to each community bench to provide a calm and relaxing environment.

Brentford’s ‘Talking is the Best Tactic’ campaign aims to use the power of football to bring people together and highlight the positive impact that an open and honest conversation can have on someone’s mental wellbeing.

As part of the club’s work in this area, free monthly drop-in events will be hosted by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to provide the community with access to mental health expertise.

The Trust also offers free support through its BeeActive Football or Comedy for Thought sessions, where attendees can hone their football or stand-up comedy skills in spaces facilitated by experienced talking therapists.

Brentford worked in collaboration with London Borough of Hounslow to place the benches in the community. Since 2021, in partnership with the NHS West London Trust, the council have worked with Brentford FC Community Sports Trust to support Hounslow residents with their mental and physical health. This project involves yoga sessions, talking therapy and friendly football sessions, illustrating the power of physical activity in improving people’s mental health.

Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces, said: “Mental health, and suicide, is an issue that sadly touches many families, my own included. Some years ago, my cousin Stephen died by suicide. I've always thought, when people are feeling at their loneliest, it's so important they know they have someone to talk to.

“So I'm proud that we're working with Brentford FC on this new initiative to help those in need find a listening ear. If that little reminder on a bench in a park saves even one life, then it will have made a difference.”

Brentford is one of 10 clubs taking part in the Premier League’s suicide prevention programme, ‘Together Against Suicide’.

As part of the programme, Brentford will use its platforms and community outreach activity to raise awareness of suicide and how it can be prevented, reduce the stigma surrounding it and encourage help-seeking behaviours.