The Bristol Pitbulls will support the mental health charity Mind throughout the 2019-20 season.

Mind is a charity that is particularly close to the hearts of the Bristol Pitbulls after our own Janne Virtanen recently went public with his own battle with mental health on the Now We're Talking Facebook page.

Janne bravely opened up about his long battle with depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation and how it brought him to the brink of making a final, fatal decision. And how it was only a phone call to The Samaritans that pulled him back.

From the very first day that Janne walked into the Bristol dressing room ten years ago he has been universally its most popular member. The one player that everyone considered themselves lucky to have as a teammate and, more importantly, as a friend.

Therefore, Janne's story is an important reminder of how mental health can create an alternative reality for someone to the one that everyone else sees them in. Why it is so important to create a culture where they feel that they can show us that world so that we can help them find their way out of it. To make them realise that however difficult a conversation it may be for either of us, it's still one that we want to have with them.

That is why the Bristol Pitbulls have decided to highlight the work being done by Mind.

The team's third jerseys have been designed to support Mind's efforts to raise awareness and promote understanding of mental health. To help Mind provide their advice and support service for anyone experiencing a mental health problem. 

ABOUT MIND

We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

For 70 years, we have been committed to making sure that everyone experiencing a mental health problem can access the support they need and is treated with the respect they deserve.

Through public campaigns, influencing decision makers and the services our local Minds deliver in communities across England and Wales, we have touched millions of lives.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.