In support of Mental Health Week, Rebel and its partners will donate $500,000 to mental health service Lifeline.
Running from 10-17 of October, Mental Health Week aims to engage communities in activities that promote mental health and wellbeing while also increasing understanding and reducing stigma about mental illness and how it impacts people's lives.
Rebel's new donation to Lifeline comes after the service experienced a 25% increase in the volume of calls from people in crisis during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
"The compounding trauma of the bushfire crisis and COVID-19 pandemic has seen demand for Lifeline services increase dramatically over the last two years," Lifeline CEO Colin Seery said.
"Lifeline Crisis Support volunteers are fielding calls to our 24-hour telephone crisis line every 30 seconds.
"The donation from Rebel and its partners is timely and much-needed so we can continue to be there for Australians 24/7," he said.
Rebel MD Gary Williams said the brand is proud to promote the power of sport on mental health and wellbeing.
"At Rebel we believe in the transformative power of sport and we are committed to helping the lives of millions experiencing emotional distress, using physical activity as a powerful antidote.
"As we slowly ease back into team activities and sports, we hope the donation from Rebel and our partners can support the mental health of Australians," he said.
According to research, being physically active is associated with lower suicidal ideation1 whilst meeting physical activity guidelines has shown to have a protective effect on a person’s suicidal risk2.
Studies have also found that participation in sport is linked to higher self-esteem, better social skills, fewer depressive symptoms and higher confidence3.
The social nature of team sport is also associated with better mental health outcomes, through connection and collaboration with others4.
"Physical activity is a powerful antidote to those suffering emotional distress; sport and exercise can have significant positive effects on mental health and suicide prevention," Lifeline head of crisis services Rachel Bowes said.
"This is why many of our crisis supporters will discuss physical exercise as one tool for improving mental wellbeing," she said.
Rebel and 47 of its partners including Nike, Adidas, Asics, Speedo, Sherrin, Champion and Under Armour, are involved in the effort.
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1 Vancampfort D, Hallgren M, Firth J, Rosenbaum S, Schuch FB, Mugisha J, Probst M, Van Damme T, Carvalho AF, Stubbs B. Physical activity and suicidal ideation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2018 Jan 1;225:438-448. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.070. Epub 2017 Aug 24. PMID: 28858658.
2 Vancampfort D, Hallgren M, Firth J, Rosenbaum S, Schuch FB, Mugisha J, Probst M, Van Damme T, Carvalho AF, Stubbs B. Physical activity and suicidal ideation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Affect Disord. 2018 Jan 1;225:438-448. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.070. Epub 2017 Aug 24. PMID: 28858658.
3 Eime, R.M., Young, J.A., Harvey, J.T. et al. A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10, 98 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-98
4 Eime, R.M., Young, J.A., Harvey, J.T. et al. A systematic review of the psychological and social benefits of participation in sport for children and adolescents: informing development of a conceptual model of health through sport. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10, 98 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-10-98