Adrian Morley backs campaign to raise mental health awareness
By Liz Lockhart
Adrian Morley, Warrington captain, is backing a campaign which has been launched by Ernie Benbow. The campaign has been launched to raise awareness of mental-health issues in the rugby league following the death of Terry Newton.
Ernie Benbow is a former senior manager in the NHS and a life-long fan of Wigan. He wanted to honour the memory of Newton by raising the profile of mental health and also player welfare.
When the initiative was launched in Warrington it received the official support of the Rugby Football League. The campaign is in partnership with Super League clubs, the NHS and the State of Mind programme board. This board was set up after Terry Newton, former Wigan and Great Britain hooker, was found hanged at his home in September of 2010.
Morley said ‘As a former team-mate and personal friend, I was shocked and devastated by Terry's sad and untimely death at such a young age," said Morley, who is to be the campaign's lead ambassador.
"I was, therefore, encouraged when I was briefed on the programme that was being developed to raise awareness of matters of mental fitness and overall well-being.
"I was even more encouraged by the news that this was aimed at the sport of rugby league at the elite level initially, but ultimately through all levels of rugby league, professional and amateur, and into local rugby league communities.
"I will assist in whatever way I can to make the aims and objectives of the programme a reality and I ask Super League clubs to nominate a top player as their club ambassador for 'State of Mind'."
Support has also been pledged by St Helens forward Jon Wilkin, Australian International Andrew Johns, Arsenal footballer Paul Merson and Alan Quinlan the Ireland rugby union forward. All of these sportsmen have been affected by mental health issues.
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