Members of our MAN v FAT Soccer league in Sundown Park, New York, are about to hit the streets to boost funds for a massively worthy trigger.
A gaggle of gamers will take part within the Out Of The Darkness stroll to boost funds for the American Basis for Suicide Prevention, which takes place on October fifth.
Their fundraising has been led by Sundown Park member Scott Henkle, who has an extended standing affiliation with the organisation. He instructed us extra.
1) Inform us a bit extra concerning the American Basis for Suicide Prevention?
The American Basis for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary well being group that provides these affected by suicide a nationwide neighborhood empowered by analysis, schooling and advocacy to take motion towards this main reason for loss of life.
Since its inception in 1987, AFSP has mobilized and linked tens of hundreds of people that have misplaced somebody to suicide; reached hundreds of people who’re in danger for suicide and those that love and take care of them; and attracted the participation of members of the scientific and medical communities, who conduct groundbreaking analysis on suicide and its prevention with AFSP’s assist.
AFSP additionally gives neighborhood teaching programs on suicide prevention and has a public coverage arm that advocates for laws and insurance policies on the federal, state and native ranges that advance the aim of stopping suicide.
2) What’s your personal affiliation with the organisation and what does that contain?
I’ve been a volunteer since 2021, beginning on the Brooklyn Out of the Darkness Committee in planning and executing on that fundraising occasion. Since 2023, I’ve additionally been the chair of the Paws for Prevention Committee taking the lead in creating and holding our spring fundraising canine stroll.
We now have held profitable Paws for Prevention occasions on the Coney Island Boardwalk in 2024 and 2025 and are starting the planning levels of our 2026 occasions.
3) How essential is male psychological well being as a well being problem within the US and the way can applications like MAN v FAT assist assist this?
The unhappy truth is that males account for the overwhelming majority of suicides every year. Once we speak concerning the prevalence of suicide in any group its essential to acknowledge contributing components to their increased suicide price and protecting components that may be current to assist forestall a person from trying suicide.
The contributors to males having increased charges embrace males being extra more likely to be in a single relationship standing, increased predisposition to substance use and gender norms that promote stoicism, toughness and self-reliance that discourage males from in search of assist. MAN v FAT helps males with reference to 2 protecting components: strengthening connections to household and friends and participation in significant actions.
In my time in MAN v FAT, I’ve constructed connections to these right here in this system with me at Sundown Park and see others constructing these connections with one another. I’ve personally seen how the supportive ambiance of our membership has inspired our members to be open with one another in our bodily and psychological struggles in weight reduction and weight-reduction plan.
These connections are essential in suicide prevention as a result of if we are able to encourage males to be open after they’re struggling on this space they are often extra open after they’re combating psychological well being. This enables them to acknowledge on their very own after they may need assistance and permits these of us round to identify when somebody may want extra assist.
In my early expertise, I’ve discovered the MAN v FAT to be a supportive neighborhood of fellows on the identical journey to drop some weight and enhance health. Everybody encourages one another on and off the sphere to be higher than the week earlier than, whether or not it’s commiserating setbacks, sharing suggestions for getting higher on the sphere or sharing what works of their weight loss plan and train routine.
The aggressive nature of this system and the (albeit mild within the scheme of issues) monetary funding encourage me to take my weight loss plan extra critically as I don’t need to let the staff down on the scales or really feel like I’m losing cash by not making an attempt to drop some weight to win on the scales and obtain my targets.
5) How a lot has getting again into bodily exercise and reducing weight supported your personal wellbeing up to now?
Stepping into taking part in within the MAN v FAT indoor soccer league has supported my very own wellbeing by giving me a construction and motivation to enhance and stick with my weight loss plan and to start exercising extra even on the opposite six days within the week we don’t meet.
6) What would you say to every other guys domestically pondering of becoming a member of?
I’d encourage them to provide it a strive. It’s a fantastic, supportive program and also you don’t want any prior soccer expertise to get began as the principles are easy and the groups will assist you as you choose it up alongside the best way.
Need to be a part of Scott at Sundown Park?
You could find out extra about MAN v FAT Soccer on our web site. And, if you happen to’d wish to know extra about AFSP, please check out their personal web site too.
