Mental Health and Sports

SFT promotes healthy, informed, and resilient communities by addressing key health challenges affecting youth, children, and women. Our mental health program is designed to raise awareness, provide support, and create safe spaces where young people can openly discuss mental wellness without fear of stigma or discrimination. Through the My Mind, My LifeCampaign, we conduct mental health awareness activities, offer counseling sessions, and provide psychosocial support to ensure that youth have access to the information and care they need.

In addition to awareness, our program includes health education on nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention, helping communities understand the link between physical well-being and mental resilience. We work closely with local leaders, schools, and families to promote positive health behaviors and to build a culture that encourages help-seeking and open conversations about mental health.

A unique and powerful part of our approach is the use of sports—especially football—as a tool to engage youth. Through community matches and sports-based activities, we create youth-friendly environments where mental health discussions feel natural, accessible, and stigma-free. Football sessions offer a safe space for young people to connect, relieve stress, express themselves, and learn about the importance of physical exercise for emotional and psychological well-being. By combining sports with health education, SFT reaches young people in ways that feel relevant, fun, and impactful.

We also invest in building the capacity of youth champions and peer educators who serve as role models and advocates for mental wellness in their schools and communities. These young leaders help extend mental health awareness to even more youth through dialogue, outreach, and peer support.

At SFT, we believe that good health—mental, emotional, and physical—is essential for learning, productivity, and empowerment, and we remain committed to creating environments where youth can thrive holistically.