Manchester basketball star using his experience to destigmatise mental health

Kofi Josephs, a professional basketball player for Manchester Giants and now entrepreneur and keynote speaker, is teaming up with NHS Greater Manchester, using his experience to destigmatise mental health.

To mark national Time to Talk Day, which encourages conversation about mental health, Kofi is sharing his story of hope so that mental health becomes “just another thing to talk about”.

Birmingham-born and now Salford resident Kofi represented his country playing basketball. He now also models and runs a business. But alongside his success, like many others, Kofi has struggled with his mental health and even considered suicide. Now he wants to share his story to encourage others to talk about suicide, remain hopeful during difficult times and help save lives.

Stories of Hope are a pivotal part of the Greater Manchester Shining a Light on Suicide – a campaign which aims to bring the issue of suicide out of the dark, break stigma and help people find the support they need. A number of Greater Manchester residents have shared their stories of struggling with suicidal thoughts or bereavement by suicide. All have generously shared their personal stories to bring hope to others who may be struggling.

Kofi was offered prestigious basketball scholarships within the American high school and college systems, the route to professional basketball. Kofi’s story of hope shares how during his early years in the States he had serious hip injuries, impacting his progress within the sport which severely affected his mental health. This was compounded by being so far from home and family while living in a competitive environment. At his lowest point, as a young man and living alone in America, he considered suicide.

Kofi talks through how one of his most important coping mechanisms was breaking time down into small chunks and focusing on getting though each day at a time. He said: “On the face of it everything can look great, but people can be really struggling underneath. And that’s why I want to be open about my experience.

“I want to bring mental health to culture because once you destigmatise it and reduce the taboo, people aren’t scared to talk about it. It’s just another thing to talk about.

“That’s the big passion for me, and I’m just here to support in any way I can. I want people to know that it’s okay to struggle. Just try and survive the day and try and thrive in your day.”

Now Kofi is established as a fashion model and he’s developing his own clothing brand. He delivers keynote speeches drawing on his own experiences, urging people to open up about their mental health and find the support they need. He hopes, that by sharing his experience, he can help break the stigma around mental ill health and suicide, and help others realise they are not alone.

Judd Skelton, Strategic Commissioning Lead for Suicide Prevention & Bereavement Support for NHS Greater Manchester, said: “We are really grateful to Kofi, and all those who share their Stories of Hope, for opening up about their struggles with mental health and suicide.

“Time to Talk Day is an opportunity for the nation to have a wider conversation about mental health. The more we talk, the more we can break that stigma, which is what our Shining a Light on Suicide campaign is all about.

“Suicide is preventable and the earlier we talk about what may be on our mind, the sooner we can share the load and reduce things reaching crisis point. Talking about our feelings can feel scary or embarrassing, but it is the first step to getting help. We hope that Stories of Hope, like Kofi's, give people who may be struggling, hope that things can change for the better and encourage them to talk about how they are feeling to a trusted friend, work colleague or family member or their GP. Samaritans are also available 24/7 if speaking to a stranger is easier – just call 116 123.

“If you have lost someone to suicide, the Greater Manchester Bereavement Service is available to listen and help you find the right support. It’s a confidential service with dedicated suicide bereavement practitioners, who are there for you no matter how long it’s been since your loved one has died. You can access the service by calling 0161 983 0902.

“Talking about suicide isn’t always easy and it can be hard to know how to support someone who you think might be feeling suicidal. But a conversation has the power to save lives. That’s why I would encourage everyone to complete our free 20-minute online training, from Zero Suicide Alliance, that is designed to help people feel more confident talking to people about suicide.”

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