Ex-Everton and Wales Football Great Neville Southall Supports Eating Disorder Awareness Week
updated on Mar 2, 2018
Former football great Neville Southall has given his support to Eating Disorder Awareness Week
The ex-Everton and Wales goalkeeper joined forces with author and eating disorder campaigner Hope Virgo by allowing her to take over his Twitter account, boasting more than 120,000 followers.
In a tweet after the 'mental health takeover' on Sunday, he revealed his wish to give 'mental health a platform'.
He said: "I hope you all enjoyed @HopeVirgo taking over my Twitter for the last hour or so. We wanted to give mental health a platform.
I hope you all enjoyed @HopeVirgo taking over my Twitter for the last hour or so
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) February 25, 2018
We wanted to give mental health a platform
Speaking to Happiful Magazine, Hope says she was grateful for Neville's support and that the takeover will return from 7pm on Sunday.
She said: "Neville has an interest in mental health and works with young people in Wales to support them.
"Neville reached out for me to ask if I wanted to take over his Twitter and it was a complete no brainer.
"It was a fab opportunity to raise awareness and get people talking about mental health.
"The chat went so well we will be running another on this Sunday at 7pm."
This year's Eating Disorder Awareness Week has seen plenty of engagement, as well as concerns voiced by Andrew Radford, chief executive of leading charity BEAT, on 'lack of awareness'.
Here are some of the questions with Hope on the takeover:
It is disgusting how people are left until they hit crisis point before they have any support #MHtakeover https://t.co/iN7kjcJ4DT
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) February 25, 2018
Yes I think you are right! So much fear of judgment - but the more we talk about this the more we can challenge this! #MHTakeover https://t.co/XEzKD5Fa62
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) February 25, 2018
Yes they are! People assume that eating disorders only effect girls and this is not right. We need to educate society so that men feel able to seek help when they need it #MHTakeover https://t.co/4vlc2P3oDl
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) February 25, 2018