The Rugby Football League have confirmed State of Mind will hold its annual dedicated round of fixtures in Round 18.
This year’s theme is based around Offload, which links to the men’s mental fitness and wellbeing project run by Rugby League Cares in partnership with State of Mind and the club foundations at Super League clubs.
Offload helps challenge how the sporting world tackles issues such as depression and anxiety, and consists of a 10 week “season of fixtures” helping men to build their own mental fitness while having fun in a relaxed atmosphere and develop coping strategies to challenge difficult situations and learn how to recognise when people close to them may need their support.
The round kicks off with two of the clubs involved in the delivery of the Offload programme, Salford Red Devils and Widnes Vikings, facing each other in front of the Sky Sports TV cameras at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday June 14.
Dr.Phil Cooper MBE, co-founder and trustee of State of Mind, said: “The State of Mind -Offload’ round is coming to Super League for the eighth season and this has allowed many people to improve their mental fitness and has saved numerous lives. We would like to thank our partners The Rugby Football League, Rugby League Cares, Big Lottery and Oddballs and all the Super League Clubs for their support.
“In rugby league offloading is not an easy skill to master, but time it right and you can achieve sensational results and score some fantastic tries. Offloading in life is not an easy skill to master, but when under pressure, if you time it right you can achieve great results and prevent a problem building or getting worse.
“By offloading and telling others about your problem or concern you can relieve the pressure, start solving the problem and build a winning mindset.”
Emma Goldsmith, Offload Programme Manager at Rugby League Cares, said: “‘Many men across the Sport are now starting to talk to their mates and ‘Offload’ their issues when times get tough. State of Mind and the Offload programme are here to help men do that and give them practical support in a fun, friendly environment, when they need to a mate in their corner.”
The other games in the State of Mind Betfred Super League round see Leeds host St Helens and Huddersfield against Catalans on Friday June 15, Hull’s home game with Wigan on Saturday June 16 and Warrington’s trip to Wakefield and Castleford’s game against Hull KR on Sunday June 17.
