The GIANTS will Shine a Light on Mental Health at our blockbuster clash on Saturday night to inspire GIANTS members, fans and the wider AFL community to speak up and seek help.
Earlier this month the GIANTS welcomed LIVIN as a Community Partner for 2017 and the organisation will be the Community Match Day Partner for Saturday night's blockbuster clash.
LIVIN was founded to wipe out the stigma associated with mental illness and raise awareness for suicide prevention after co-founders Sam Webb and Casey Lyons lost a close friend.
The core of LIVIN’s mission is the mantra “It Ain’t Weak to Speak” which the GIANTS hope to implement across Saturday’s match.
On Thursday, former GIANT Tom Downie penned a powerful piece detailing his mental health battles that led to his retirement from the game earlier this season.
“How could watching the play, a stoppage 50 metres away, cause me to run from the field… and not return? Sounds pretty silly right. On this particular day, my anxiety took over and I had a panic attack.”
Year-round, GIANTS players and LIVIN ambassadors Jacob Hopper and Emma Swanson will be publishing monthly blogs, highlighting their issues with mental health awareness in their communities.
Both Jacob and Emma reached out to join the movement due to their firsthand experiences in overcoming mental health challenges in sport.
GIANTS members and fans can show their support by visiting the LIVIN website, and even purchasing some merchandise at livin.org.au.
You can also visit the LIVIN crew at the GIANTS v Geelong match, Spotless Stadium, Saturday 1 July, 7.25pm. Get your tickets here.
The first 5000 attendees through the gates of Spotless Stadium will receive a FREE GIANTS glow stick with the chance to win a LIVIN & GIANTS prize pack at half time.
