Premier League clubs changing lives on World Mental Health Day

You don't have to suffer alone. 

To mark World Mental Health Day, see how reaching out to a Premier League club near you can help turn your life around.

Our clubs and players work in their local communities every day, all year round, to promote social wellbeing and help to make a difference.

Here are just a few of their stories.

Everton

Ryan had dreams of becoming a footballer before he began to suffer from poor mental health six years ago.

"My mental health took over me," he says. "You don't feel on this planet when you're having an episode. Voice hearing, hallucinations, I just wanted to die."

But thanks to Everton in the Community's Imagine Your Goals programme, Ryan finally feels like he belongs again.

Tom Davies sat down with Ryan, a lifelong Liverpool fan, to talk about how Everton have enabled him to turn his life around. 

Chelsea

Mental health affects anyone of all ages. 

To help men and women over 50 who have no one else to support them, the Chelsea Foundation put on walking football sessions to bring together those in need and create brand new families. 

"My wife and kids moved away for work so I was on my own for the first time in 30 years," says Ken. "I was suffering from depression when I started. But it's cured it. It is absolutely amazing. I really, genuinely look forward to it every week."

Norwich City 

Timm Klose is a Premier League footballer. But behind the smile was a man suffering on the inside. 

"I thought if I say I'm weak it makes me look bad," he says. "But all of a sudden I started to reach out for help and now I talk every week."

The Norwich star sat down to discuss how opening up can be the start of the road to recovery. 

Mental health problems can affect anyone, any day of the year. If you or someone you know are having thoughts and feelings that are making day-to-day life difficult, it’s always OK to ask for help.