King’s College Hospital RFC partners with LooseHeadz

King’s College Hospital has signed up to partner with rugby’s leading mental health charity LooseHeadz

LooseHeadz was set up to help tackle the stigma around mental health in society, and which can particularly be present in the sporting world.

Through the partnership, King’s will nominate at least one playing team member and one committee member to be trained as the club’s nominated ‘LooseHead’ – a mental health lead.

The nominated individuals will receive training in how to create a mental health friendly rugby club. Their job isn’t to be an expert in mental health, but instead to help follow a process of ‘prevent, promote, educate, signpost’.

Looseheadz provide access to a 24/7 text line to link rugby club members to trained volunteers who can provide extra support, as well as access to the Govox Wellbeing platform.

Speaking about the new partnership, Club Chairman Stew Hartley said:

“Mental health is such an important topic in society, and we know that one of the reasons people come to rugby clubs is to create that sense of belonging that helps them overcome some of the challenges they might be facing in other parts of their life. We’re delighted to partner with Looseheadz to ensure we’re a mental health friendly rugby club and look forward to building the partnership over time.”

First team captain Andre Harriman said:

“Rugby is a team sport, and that means supporting each other through good times and bad. We all know friends who have struggled in recent years – and as a club, we’re still overcoming the impact of the pandemic. It stands to reason many of our members are still feeling the effects too. This partnership will give us the tools to help better support one another, both on the pitch and off it.”

For more information on the KCH/LooseHeadz partnership please see the dedicated page on our website