Mental health matters: Players reveal life-saving Trust support

A wide-ranging group of current and former professional cricketers have come together in a powerful new film to reveal their mental health journeys and the support that they have received from the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.

Whether you’re new to the game or many years retired, male or female, no player is immune from mental health struggles.

This is illustrated in the new video, produced by the Professional Cricketers’ Trust and released on Vitality Blast Finals Day, which this year is supporting the players’ charity to raise funds and awareness throughout the day.

The film features brave cricketers from across the cricketing spectrum, from 27-year-old Fi Morris, to 39-year-old Robbie Joseph, to 63-year-old Tony Pigott.

Morris has broken ground as the first female domestic professional to speak out about the support she has received from the Trust, and she appears in the video alongside a number of her fellow professionals who are also revealing their stories for the first time. Amongst those who have opened up are two players who featured in the 2019 and 2020 Finals Day in Derbyshire Falcons all-rounder Anuj Dal and Gloucestershire’s opening batter Miles Hammond.

They are among 460 individuals who have been supported by the Trust since 2015 in the area of mental health alone, including a record-breaking 94 in 2020.

The Trust is dedicated to providing life-changing and often life-saving support for less fortunate PCA members, as well as their immediate families. Support can include mental health treatment, funding towards specialist medical treatment or equipment, hardship support and direction or advice in difficult situations.

This is the second year in succession that Vitality Blast Finals Day has supported the Trust. Fundraising activities on the day will include the annual Mascot Race, a text to donate service and an online auction, and you can find out more about how to get involved here.

Former England international and World Cup winner, Liam Plunkett, said: “Talking about mental health was massive for me. It put me in a good place and put me back on track to play for England and go on to be successful with the group that we had. Don’t hesitate and don’t feel embarrassed about it.

“I’m so happy that people do contribute and put money towards the amazing Trust – it really does go a long way.”

Southern Brave and Western Storm player, Fi Morris, said: “The point is to help people realise that you do have struggles and that’s fine. I’ve come quite a long way and now I feel like I can use my experiences to help other people and stop them from getting to the stage that I got to.”

Ex-Northamptonshire man turned junior doctor, Vishal Tripathi, said: “The Trust certainly changed my life. I was struggling big time with my issues and now I’m here dealing with them head on. It couldn’t have been done without the Professional Cricketers’ Trust.”

Ashes winner and Professional Cricketers’ Trust Director, Marcus Trescothick, said: “I know from experience how difficult it can be to open up on the issue of mental health, so first and foremost I would like to commend the 11 players featured in our new video for speaking out about their own journeys, thank you.

“If you have watched the video and would like to make a small contribution towards the Trust’s life-changing work, please do get behind us on Vitality Blast Finals Day and give what you can to help us help those who need it most.”

Vitality Blast Finals Day is supporting the players’ charity: the Professional Cricketers’ Trust. One of the biggest days in the domestic calendar will see awareness and funds raised for the Trust. Visit bit.ly/DonateFinalsDay to find out more and make a donation.