Supporting on and off the pitch

Common Goal have come together with the world’s largest online therapy platform BetterHelp to provide one month of free therapy to soccer fans worldwide. 

Opening up about mental health struggles has been seen as something of a taboo area within the game but there has been a positive shift in recent years with more and more players from around the globe opening up when dealing with any potential issues. 

Common Goal member Naomi Girma led a mental health initiative with the support of her teammates on the US Women’s National Team (USWNT) ahead of the 2023 World Cup last summer, with the focus on breaking stigmas and offering tangible solutions to these issues from the grassroots level to the top of the game. 

Create the Space was then launched later on in the year, supported by the likes of Chelsea and England defender Ben Chilwell, Arsenal’s Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema and Galatasaray’s Sérgio Oliveira with the drive to ensure soccer becomes a platform to improve mental health outside of the game while improving the culture within the sport itself. 

That action continues with BetterHelp presenting the space for any soccer fan from around the globe to have access to one free month of therapy, available to them online. 

Over four million people have accessed BetterHelp’s services with therapy offered by text, phone or video call. 

Any new member to the platform can access the initiative and be paired with a therapist within 48 hours. 

Speaking about the need for athletes to seek help for any mental health troubles, BetterHelp’s Clinical Operations Manager Sonni Williams said: “It is not uncommon for athletes or people who play sports to deal with performance anxiety.  

“When faced with performance anxiety, they may feel panic or extreme nervousness at the thought of performing in front of a crowd or competing at a high level. 

“Therapy can help athletes to come up with healthy coping mechanisms to deal with these feelings.” 

“BetterHelp is excited and humbled to partner with Common Goal to expand access to mental healthcare via our collaborative social impact initiative,” stated Director of Partnerships Natali Notzon. 

“It’s partnerships like this that bring our mission to life: making therapy more accessible, affordable and convenient for all.” 

Common Goal and BetterHelp have also teamed up with 12 community-based non-profit organisations who are using soccer as a tool to create social and emotional change. 

Utilising this, they will provide three months of free therapy to over 1,200 coaches, players and families in some of the most under-resourced communities worldwide. 

"We are excited to team up with BetterHelp to provide access to therapy for the entirety of our soccer community,” said Common Goal USA Executive Director Lilli Barrett-O'Keefe. 

“It’s important for Create the Space, Common Goal’s Mental Health movement, to be centered on action. It’s critical to partner with organisations like BetterHelp to diversify the support we are able to offer coaches, professional players, youth, and fans.  

“From trainings to therapy, workshops and positive coaching – we hope to be able to create holistic healing across the soccer ecosystem.” 

To find out more information about the initiative and access the free month of therapy, visit www.betterhelp.com/commongoal .