Target Group:
13 – 14 year old Haringey boys at risk of being expelled from education due to behavioural concerns

Funded by:
Premier League and Comic Relief

Partners:
Time to Change, Mind, Rethink, The Institute of Psychiatry and King’s College, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey Mental Health Trust, Alexandra Park School, Parkview School, Gladesmore School and St Thomas More Catholic School.

Content:
Game of Two Halves is a ten week programme containing football elements and strong pastoral elements. The programme uses football to explore emotion and behaviour expressed on the pitch and how participants can take this with them into the classroom and school environment. The programme is run by a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist together with our coaches and includes a session at the Learning Zone with participants interviewing each other at the press auditorium and producing a match article. The programme is supported and attended by the teaching support staff and young mentors at Southgate College.

Why needed:
The government’s ‘No Health Without Mental Health’ strategy outlines how an emphasis on early intervention and prevention will help tackle the underlying causes of mental ill-health.
1 in 10 young people aged 5 – 16 suffer from a diagnosable mental health condition.
More than half of all adults with mental health problems were diagnosed in childhood. Less than half were treated appropriately at the time.
67 % of suicidal young men say they have nowhere to turn for support.
More than one in three young men would 'smash something up' instead of talking about their feelings.

Impact:
Teachers described a positive impact that participation had on the behaviour and emotional wellbeing of the individuals who participated.
Alexandra Park School identified participants as being more mature and emotionally literate than before participation.
Park View School described encouraging rapport developed between Dr Barnes and the students.