Last month’s charity football match ‘switch the headspace’ raised more than awareness for mental health, it also donated $50,000 to headspace Mount Gambier.

The major event was organised by a dedicated local committee which included Adam Todd, Adam Richards, Jesse Plunkett, Celeste and Shane Raymond, Aaron Davis, Matt Roscow and Luke Thomson.

Mr Todd said raising $50,000 felt “unreal” and was delighted the funds would be spent locally to support the community in its needs through headspace.

“Any sort of money that came in was always going to be a bonus because the number one aim was to raise awareness and we did that before the game even started, so any money that came through was always going to be an additional thing to the awareness, so we are absolutely stoked,” he said.

Mr Roscow said he was overwhelmed and nearly speechless about the amount of money raised.

“To raise this amount of money, the amount of awareness we raised, to get to that amount and then just to think about all the great things the guys here can do with that amount of money and how many people can be helped with that is really, really good,” Mr Roscow said.

Mr Roscow said mental health awareness was a key goal of the initiative.

“We set out with the goal to raise the awareness first and foremost, the money was just a bonus,” he said.

“We have raised awareness, but we need to continue to raise awareness and that is where funds like this going to places like headspace can help.

“Especially for the age group, it is such a volatile time for some people, and it is so important for them to not feel like they are alone and have places like this to go to.”

headspace community liaison worker Nick McInerney said headspace was “blown away” by the funds raised and was still assessing what the donation would be used for.

“It is amazing and we are pretty overwhelmed by the amount of support behind the event and for our service as well,” Mr McInerney said.

“It is very humbling and really exciting for what that might be able to bring to the community.

“We did not really allow ourselves too much planning or conversation about it because we were not sure what we were dealing with before the event, before we knew the amount, so we will certainly be having some conversations about that coming up to make sure it is used well.”

Mr McInerney said headspace was very grateful for the switch the headspace team taking action to raise mental health awareness.

“Everyone knows somebody that has been impacted by mental health or people who struggle ongoing and so I think the stigma around mental health is certainly decreasing, as it should be,” he said.

Ms Raymond said it had been an amazing experience to see the event come together after what started from a few scribbles on a notepad at the kitchen table with Mr Todd and Mr Richards in August last year.

“It transformed into a significant memorable event that has connected around 3000 people directly at the game and indirectly thousands more, through positive promotion of mental health awareness and support seeking,” she said.

“We had no experience organising anything of this size and complexity and I think as a result of pushing through the process and achieving such a fantastic result we have all also grown immensely as people in so many ways.

“We now know certainly anything is possible if you put your mind to it, do the hard work and have a great group around you, with the shared belief you can make a difference.

“Just like with mental health, you are better having a good team of support rather than struggling alone.

“As a small group together, we will always share this experience and we are grateful the wider community is better due to our commitment to creating long term change for better mental health outcomes.”

Ms Raymond said the match was a night the community stood together in positive change and embraced the fact that it was not weak to speak up about struggles.

“This will now support safeguarding the ongoing wellbeing of our current and future community and that is what we hoped to do,” she said.

Going forward, Mr Todd said it was important mental health awareness and conversations continued in the community.

“We do not want it to die down now after the game has finished, obviously there was a lot of talk and a lot of awareness around mental health since the game was on and it is important that we do not drop that,” he said.

The committee thanked everyone who was involved with the event including the sponsors, community, players, headspace, and those who had reached out.

“None of this was possible without everybody being involved, the community played such a big part because without the community we do not have an event, there is no money raised, so a big thanks to everyone for coming and supporting it,” Mr Roscow said.