Shinty to do bit for mental health thanks to cash from Inverness Common Good Fund

SHINTY clubs will benefit from a funding boost for a new mental health support programme.

Highland Council has granted £3000 from the Inverness Common Good Fund toward the initiative by shinty governing body the Camanachd Association, which aims to provide support to players with mental health and personal issues, as well as paying for “mental health first aid” workshops and training for members of staff.

In partnership with Sports Chaplaincy Scotland – which has been involved with mental health and pastoral issues in football and rugby – the scheme has been introduced as a pilot project at Kyles Athletic, with the aim of bringing it to Inverness soon.

Camanachd Association national development manager Graham Cormack said they were very grateful for the money.

“We are a small association but we are trying to do all that is possible to raise awareness on mental health issues, and we want to give the chance for anyone to have the right support and to have someone they know they can talk to,” he said.

“What we take pride from is that shinty is at the heart of some of the rural areas in Scotland and plays an important part in supporting the community.”

Another £2400 was given to support the MacTavish Cup final on September 14, which falls on the last day of Suicide Prevention Week, for which the association will work with Police Scotland to raise awareness.

Camanachd Association CEO Derek Keir said: “This is the first time we are rolling out first aid mental health training to staff and we think it’s really important.”

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