THE Vale’s Community Support team played their third annual football match to help raise awareness of World Mental Health Day.

The team was made up of people working with the Vale’s locality mental health team community support workers, who are looking to improve their mental health.

World Mental Health Day is marked on Wednesday 10 October each year and this year’s theme was focused on young people and mental health in a changing world.

The day allows stakeholders and workers to talk about mental health issues as well as what more needs to be done to make mental health care a reality for people worldwide.

Vale players took on service users from various Newport community mental health teams, and the away team won 8-5 at Barry’s Jenner Park stadium. The match followed a private tour of Cardiff City Stadium.

Members of the Vale Locality Mental Health Team, Simon Colston and Sam Small organised the day, as well as played in this year’s team. The team run a weekly football group for patients receiving mental health services

Sam Small, forensic community support worker at the Vale Council said: “It was a very competitive and enjoyable gam, and everyone involved has at some point in their lives suffered with mental ill health, and for some this was the first football match they have ever played in.

“Sport and particularly football in this case, is so important to everyone involved. In the hour or so when they are playing football every week, they can forget about everything else going on in their lives and just enjoy playing with mates.

“The self-esteem gained from playing, has helped many of our players to go onto voluntary and paid work, but most importantly has helped to improve their health.”