Spreading 'mental wealth' message

Author: Richard Becht warriors.kiwi
Timestamp: Mon 11 Mar 2019, 07:58 AM

Vodafone Warriors players and staff have been combining with Auckland wellbeing provider Le Va to deliver workshops to local rugby league clubs throughout the opening weeks of the NRL season.

The Vodafone Warriors have a four-strong wellbeing team including three of the club’s former players in wellbeing and education manager Jerry Seuseu, player wellbeing and education manager Ben Henry and welfare and education coach Jerome Ropati as well as the experienced Carmen Taplin, also a welfare and education coach.

Teaming up with Le Va, the Vodafone Warriors are visiting clubs presenting a workshop entitled “Mental Wealth”. Also assisting at each session is a Vodafone Warriors NRL player.

“Wellbeing and education have been critical for us and the NRL generally since 2008 and this is a really important way for us to deliver crucial messages in our community,” said Seuseu.

“Le Va, our charity partner this year, is well-respected in the wellbeing space. It’s known for its work in suicide prevention, mental health and addictions as well as advocacy work in the public health and anti-violence areas.”

Le Va, an NRL partner, designed the NRL relocation programme and has also provided scholarships to players keen on entering the mental health sector. For more information about Le Va, go to www.leva.co.nz

Numerous former players work in the game’s wellbeing area including Dene Halatau, David Solomona, Nigel Vagana, Dean Widders, George Rose and Andrew Ryan with the NRL and Jeff Robson (Parramatta), former All Black Andrew Blowers (Melbourne), Ben Ross (Cronulla), Clinton Toopi (Gold Coast), Kevin Kingston and Shane Elford (Penrith) and Matt Ballin (Manly).

The Vodafone Warriors have completed sessions with Glenfield, New Lynn, Richmond and Pakuranga in the programme’s first two weeks. They’ll be at Papatoetoe, Howick and Bay Roskill this week with further visits booked right through until the end of April.