Norwich City hold first Minute Unsilenced to mark World Mental Health Day

Players and fans alike were encouraged to spend 60 seconds talking about mental health before Saturday's victory over Hull

Norwich are helping make the “ultimate difference” by playing their part in removing the stigma around the subject of mental health.

To mark World Mental Health Day on Thursday, the Canaries continued their awareness-raising efforts with another eye-catching initiative. Before Saturday’s 4-0 win against Hull they hosted football’s first ever Minute Unsilenced.

Inspired by the traditional minute’s silence, all inside Carrow Road were encouraged to use the 60 seconds to start a conversation about mental health. Both sets of players were also involved when they gathered in pre kick-off huddles.

It was Norwich’s latest unique way of highlighting the issue with another being a powerful short film they produced titled ‘You Are Not Alone’ which went viral last year.

Norwich defender Jack Stacey, 28, said: “A massive theme of mental health is getting people talking, especially men and younger men. Football fits that demographic perfectly so to be able to promote that idea of speaking rather than being silent is really something we were proud to be a part of.

“It almost starts the conversation but also, subconsciously, makes it a subject that is not taboo or has a stigma to it. I feel a lot better now being in this industry [now] knowing people that need help can get it.

“When I was 18 I don’t remember mental health being talked about by young men or many people in public at all. Not only was it not highlighted at clubs, there was probably also a stigma to talking about it.

“But the awareness of having people to speak to and also removing the stigma has been growing through my time as a footballer and hopefully continues to increase. [There not being a stigma anymore] can make the ultimate difference.

“If someone is in that position I’d like to think they would be comfortable speaking to the relevant people that can help them.”

Norwich’s 2023 World Mental Health Day video - watched over 300 million times in 150 countries - proved to be an important conversation starter.

“A lot of the lads spoke about that in the changing room,” Stacey said. “I’ve also had a lot of people that know nothing about football or Norwich, they’ve watched it, it affected them and they want to speak to me about it.

“Friends, family, even some people I’ve met for the first time. People who ask what I do, I say I’m a footballer, I play for Norwich and that’s when the discussion comes up.

“Its a great example of football clubs using the platform they have to spread awareness of things to make a positive change."

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