One of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic is a rise in mental health issues. #TerraceTalk is an initiative from the FSA . The aim is to support people at risk with a focus on mental health issues. WHUST is looking at how we could develop Terrace Talk at West Ham United and who we would need to work with to bring this in.

Following work with EFL supporters groups in partnership with MIND, the Football Supporters Association has launched a fan-led mental health campaign. Such an initiative would be of significance at any point in time but now, with COVID-19 having such a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of so many people, it is that much more to be welcomed.

Its aim is to encourage open and honest conversations about mental health and encourage supporters who need that help to seek out mental health services. It recognises the social aspects that the matchday routine provides and how much supporters miss that matchday routine - online substitutes are not the same.

Deborah Dilworth, the FSA’s EFL network manager:

The pandemic, and lack of in-person football, has had a serious impact on our collective mental health. It feels like an important moment to establish and develop supporter-led work on a national level around mental health. #TerraceTalk will hopefully encourage fans to keep an eye out for each other and check in on a friend or fellow supporter you’d normally see at the match.

We participated in the FSA launch session held in February last year. It was the first in a series of events and this was the launch of the initiative into the wider community of supporters. Up until now it has been predominantly supported by the EFL, MIND and EFL and non-league supporters’ organisations.

One of the hosts was Anwar Uddin who started his professional career with West Ham after working his way up through the youth and reserve teams where he was captain. He was in the squad that won the 1999 FA Youth Cup before joining the first team in 2001. He is currently Assistant Manager at Aldershot Town.

Also on the panel was Luke Chadwick who played for us in 2004/05. Luke spoke about how his mental health had been affected by abuse about his appearance that he had received as a young player. He highlighted how the media had made fun of his appearance and the impact this would have on him.

Other panel members were Hayley Jarvis, Head of Sport & Physical Activity at MIND; Danny Mills, Dulwich Hamlet striker, involved with Shout Out For Mental Health: Gemma Oaten, actress, patron and manager of SEED (Support and empathy for eating disorders).

WHUST has continued working to introduce Terrace Talk to the London Stadium. We are pleased the Club is supporting our work as we move closer to fruition. To date we have spoken to James’ place, thanks to the Club for the introduction. We are now in the process of agreeing how we can work with MIND, a Nationally recognised Mental Health Charity.

We will update you as this exciting work progresses.