"She talks a lot. Rookie mistake!" laughed Brentford head coach Thomas Frank, after making a surprise phone call to check on his mother-in-law as part of the Premier League's "Inside Matters" campaign.
Frank has joined his fellow Premier League managers, and players from all top-flight clubs, in getting involved with "Inside Matters", which raises awareness of mental health and encourages fans to check in on the wellbeing of others.
To help initiate conversations around mental health, Frank was invited to make a call to check in on a friend or a loved one.
As you can see in the video above, he chose his mother-in-law, who Frank said he cared about a lot but rarely spoke to on the phone.
After a conversation covering topics ranging from coffee and garden moles, to Brentford's next match and the family's support of him, Frank reiterated the importance of checking in with loved ones.
"[She's] getting older so a call from me, or her daughter or son or other daughter, gives [her] a lot," he said.
"I think every single time you do it [make a call] you get a positive response. You make other people happy - it makes you happy."
Professional support available
To help fans access professional support, the Premier League is collaborating with Shout, a free, confidential 24/7 text support service for anyone in the UK who is struggling with their mental health, run by the charity Mental Health Innovations.
Fans can text "SHOUT" to 85258 to receive round-the-clock support from trained volunteers, supervised and supported in real time by an expert clinical team.
Through the partnership, the League is providing funding for Shout’s helpline services over the weekend and during Mental Health Awareness Week.
You can also access mental-health advice and resources here through the Premier League's own Stay Well Hub.
