Can We Talk?
We Can Talk. Three simple words that can help save a life.
In the time it takes for Oxford United to play a 90-minute football match, someone in England loses their life to suicide.
This World Mental Health Day, Oxford United Football Club is launching its mental health campaign, ‘Can We Talk?’ in partnership with the Joey Beauchamp Foundation and Oxfordshire Mind, to tackle the stigma around mental health and suicide.
The campaign kicks off with a powerful video featuring Will Vaulks, a member of the Oxford United Men’s First Team, where he shares his personal story about suicide, recounting the impact of losing both grandfathers during his teenage years.
The poignant video also features Luke Beauchamp, who bravely speaks about the loss of his brother, Joey, aged 50 in 2022, who is widely regarded as Oxford United’s greatest-ever player. Suicide continues to touch the Club to this day following the recent death of 24-year-old supporter, Jack Badger, and his mother Sharon joins Will and Luke in the campaign to spread the message, We Can Talk.
The video forms part of a wider initiative that will continue throughout World Mental Health Day, with Sky Sports partnering with the Club to broadcast exclusive content with Will, Luke, Sharon, and the mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind. Video and online content will be published throughout the day, including a special roundtable discussion.
The campaign and commitment go beyond highlighting an issue, with Oxford United today announcing the launch of free mental health workshops in partnership with Oxfordshire Mind and the Joey Beauchamp Foundation.
These workshops will empower the Oxfordshire and wider football community to better understand and support mental health, bringing people together through the power of Oxford United. Mental health expertise will be on hand at sessions, as we look to open conversations and signpost people to where they can turn for help.
Further details regarding these workshops, along with additional training programmes, will be shared in due course.
Will Vaulks spoke about the importance of this campaign, saying: “We need to end the stigma around mental health, and we need to strive for a society where we stop people dying from suicide.
“Both of my grandfathers took their lives when I was a teenager, and it is something that lives with me and my family to this day.
“There are always people to speak to, whether that is those close to you or charities that can help, and we need to make sure we continue to spread this message and make sure we can allow people to ask for help.”
Speaking on the launch of this new partnership, Ian Nutt, Oxfordshire Mind Head of Development, said: “At Oxfordshire Mind, we are proud to begin this partnership with Oxford United to raise awareness around mental health and tackle the stigma that too often surrounds it.
“The launch of our collaborative video and roundtable is just the beginning of our journey together, showcasing our shared commitment to supporting the mental wellbeing of our community.
“Moving forward, we are excited to host workshops and further initiatives, working side by side with Oxford United to ensure everyone in Oxfordshire can access the resources and support they deserve when they need it.”
Luke Beauchamp, founder of the Oxfordshire-based mental health organisation the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, said: “This partnership with Oxford United and Oxfordshire Mind is an especially crucial step in our work to eradicate suicide.
“With the backing of the Club, which Joey was so proud to represent, we hope that opening up about our own experiences can be a catalyst for change to allow others to speak up about their own mental health.
“Oxford United is an important part of people’s lives, and we want to work with the Club to reach beyond just football and try and positively improve the lives of those in this county and beyond.
“Going forward, we will continue to work extremely closely with the Club and Oxford United in the Community, to continue to raise awareness and ensure more people avoid suicide.”
We Can Talk. Help is out there. Free mental health support is available through Oxfordshire Mind, with 24-hour and 365 days a year help available nationwide through Samaritans.
To speak with Oxfordshire Mind, contact 01865 247 788.
To speak with Samaritans, contact 116 123.
To learn more about the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, please contact info@joeybeauchamp.org, or go to the website at joeybeauchamp.org.
