Cricket South Africa (CSA) has made a groundbreaking announcement about its new partnership with prominent health organizations to address and prioritize mental health concerns within CSA’s development hub program.
The three-way collaboration between CSA, U-Act, and The Corporate Butterfly aims to tackle the growing mental health crisis in the country. The primary focus of this partnership is to promote mental wellness through highly skilled coaching, mentorship, and personal and professional development. These efforts aim to influence positive change and encourage the adoption of cognitive behavioral practices in community development and sustained recovery processes.
The program will be implemented in six phases over a span of three years in each province. Coaches will benefit from face-to-face and online coaching, training, and monthly supervision sessions.
Beyond these initiatives, the collaborative effort will also involve joint campaigns and advocacy initiatives to raise awareness about mental health issues within the sports community and the wider public.
Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s Director of Cricket, acknowledged the critical role of mental health in the holistic development of cricket coaches. He emphasized that CSA’s commitment to nurturing both the physical and mental aspects of the cricket fraternity is essential for the growth of the game. The partnership with U-Act and The Corporate Butterfly marks a significant step toward fostering a culture of mental wellness and support within the development structures of cricket. The aim is to empower coaches to face life’s challenges with resilience and strength.
Enthusiastically speaking about the collaboration, David Collins from U-Act said, “It touches my core to take this work out to people who need this the most. We are not here to just coach cricketers, we are here to build humans and break the stigma around mental health.”
Roselle Gowan, representing The Corporate Butterfly, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to support CSA and the cricket communities in making a positive difference and leading the way for this important change.
The partnership between CSA, U-Act, and The Corporate Butterfly holds the potential to create a safe and supportive environment that nurtures the mental well-being of cricket coaches, enabling them to reach their full potential both on and off the field.