Huddersfield Town’s wellbeing programme rescues Mihai

When Mihai Luchenciuc relocated to Yorkshire in his early teens from Romania to live with his older sister, leaving behind his parents and other family members, he began to battle with isolation and mental health challenges. 

Mihai, aged 19, experienced symptoms of low mood and psychosis.  

After initial treatment, and the care of the local NHS Psychosis Team, they wanted to engage Mihai in positive activity where he could feel safe and included. 

Also due to the medication prescribed for his mental health, Mihai experienced weight gain, so it was hoped that by attending wellbeing football activity it would have holistic benefits for him. His care coordinator brought him to Huddersfield Town Foundation’s weekly Wellbeing Football and Heads Up sessions. 

Gregory Russell, from the NHS Psychosis Team supported Mihai during his recovery. “My job is to work with Mihai to help him achieve his goals, and in doing so, attempt to coordinate and provide him with care,” Gregory said. “In our time working together, Mihai identified goals as starting to make friends, feeling like he fitted in in the local area, to lose weight and get back into education.  

“Football is a huge stress deterrent for Mihai, the group has also made him feel like he belongs in the local area, given him something to attend each week and allowed us to work on his confidence in many ways.” 

Mihai has developed new friendships and his mental health has improved, thanks to local NHS support and the variety of provisions on offer by Huddersfield Town Foundation, the Club’s official charity. The Foundation wanted to set up a session that specifically helped local members of the community with their mental health, and Heads Up was born in October 2023. 

Oliver Cundill, Health Manager at Huddersfield Town Foundation said: “I feel his footballing ability is dramatically improving week by week. 

“His engagement with the other participants on the session has been great, making key friendships that have benefited him away from the session He has enjoyed coming along to a session where he can confidentially share his struggles away from the sessions.”