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Around 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem this year yet the shame and silence can be as bad as the mental health problem itself. Your attitude to mental health could change someone’s life.

Being open to mental health doesn’t have to be awkward and being there for someone can make a huge difference to their life. 

Most people in their life time will experience mental heath issues whether that be petsonally or somebody close to them. There are many organisations out there who can help but unforrunately the stigma that still surrounds mental health can often prevent those in need of reaching out to family, friends and professional organisations!

This stigma needs to stop and we need to accept that if we are struggling we are not failures and that 'it is ok not to be ok'.

You may or may not be aware I had my own battle with mental health near two years ago and until that point I like many thought depression was not  a real illnesses and it's just a state of mind. Well I now know that it is very real and that it is ok to ask for help. Without this help and the understanding of those close to me it would have been a very long and lonely journey it's taken me till now to feel strong enough to talk about my issues and how I'm dealing with them alot better.  I would never want anyone to go through alone a fraction of what I did. The world can be a cruel place. 

My reasons for going public on this is because I feel that if I can make a difference to just one person then it's a start to ending the stigma.

A few months back Sam and I had a meeting with North Staffs mind a local mental health charity about promoting their services through our football team and from this has emerged out new home kit which proudly displays their logo.

Some of you may not see this as a significant move however we feel that through displaying the logo on our strip we can spread the word and ultimately make a difference.

The idea of Sam and I setting up Stoke Town Adults was not just about the football and the winning, but to provide a safe family like environment where we can all come together as equals and be there for eachother.

Myself and James leesey will be running the potters arf as well as a relay team of 8 players from the Stoke Town FC. 

I would also like to introduce Ashley Ellerton to you all. Ashleigh is the girlfriend of one of our players and is a regular supporter at Stoke Town. 

Having spoken to Ashley who is a keen runner she volunteered to join in with our fundraising bid by running 2 half marathons this year in aid of North Staffs Minds. Ash's first challenge will be Stafford half marathon in March. Please dig deep  

Sam, Russ & Stoke Town FC