Supporting Your Mental Health: Today and Every Day

10 October 2025

World Mental Health Day | 10 October

Today, on World Mental Health Day, we’re reminded that looking after our mental wellbeing is just as important as caring for our physical health. For many of us working in golf club management, the pressures of the role – long hours, multiple responsibilities, and balancing the needs of members, staff, and committees – can take their toll.

As an association, we’re committed to ensuring that no member ever feels they have to face those challenges alone.

Support Available to GCMA Members

The GCMA provides a range of confidential support services and resources designed to help you look after your mental health and wellbeing:

🧠 Access to Regional Mental Health First Aiders

Trained GCMA regional representatives are available to offer a listening ear, guidance, and signposting to further support.

💻 Mental Health and Wellbeing Webinars

Revisit a library of dedicated webinars available in the Members’ Webinar Library – covering topics such as managing stress, building resilience, and supporting your teams.

☎️ Counselling Assistance Helpline

Free and confidential counselling support for you and your family, accessible through our assistance helpline (number available in the Members’ Hub).

🎓 Wellbeing Programmes on SkillGate

Access over 50 online programmes dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of you and your team – from short taster lessons to in-depth tutorials and certificate programmes.

📘 Advanced Management Certificate: Building Resilience and Managing Mental Health

A structured learning opportunity designed to deepen your understanding of mental health in the workplace and provide practical strategies to build personal and professional resilience. (Next Course date: 24-25th March 2026, Moor Park Golf Club)

You’re Not Alone

We encourage all our members to take a moment today to check in with themselves – and with a colleague. A simple conversation can make a real difference.

If you’re struggling, or simply need someone to talk to, please reach out. Support is always available.

👉 Find out more:

Contact the HQ Team at [email protected], your Regional Manager ([email protected]), or your local Mental Health First Aider – contact details are available in the Members’ Hub.

Other Useful Charities and Helplines

If you or someone you know needs immediate or additional support, the following organisations can help:

Mind – Mental health support and information: mind.org.uk | 0300 123 3393
Samaritans – 24/7 listening and emotional support: samaritans.org | Call 116 123 (free)
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) – Support for men facing mental health challenges: thecalmzone.net | 0800 58 58 58
Hospitality Action – Support for those working in the hospitality and leisure industry: hospitalityaction.org.uk | 0808 802 0282

Let’s continue to support each other — not just today, but every day.

By Mark Shanley

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John Steele

John Steele is a former professional athlete, sports coach, Olympic Leader and is the Executive Director of Sport at Loughborough University. He has been Chief Executive across a range of sectors. Drawing on leadership experience of nine different Olympic and Paralympic Games (including the amazing events at the Rio Games), John reflects on the lessons from this unique period in British sport and relays his fascinating views on creating high performing teams.

Indeed, inspired from PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, by the most successful performance ever for Team GB, he has a whole host of new business and leadership insights into how this was brilliant performance was achieved and how it can translate back into your organisation.

John moved into the corporate world, before he enjoyed an outstanding career as a professional rugby player achieving international honours. After his playing career, he turned his hand to coaching and achieved the highest accolade for a British club coach by winning the European Cup with Northampton Saints. He then became Executive Director on the Saints Board during a period of unprecedented growth, and served on the England Rugby Board during the successful world cup campaign of 2003. It was no surprise that John’s talents were called upon to drive through a change and modernisation programme as CEO of the Rugby Football Union – a challenge that became controversial and ended in his departure from the post after only a year, but with his dignity and professional pride intact.

Headhunted by UK Sport, John took up post as CEO the day before London won the 2012 Olympic bid – and this promising start was sustained as he embarked on developing the UK’s high performance sport system, which he led for a six-year period of unprecedented success through the Beijing and London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Post-London 2012, with the Olympic legacy in place and an obligation to continue inspiring a generation, John took up his post as Group Chief Executive of the Youth Sport Trust. He has also succeeded Steve Cram as Chairman of the English Institute of Sport, an organisation described as ‘the team behind the team’, which delivers a range of performance impacting solutions to over 40 Olympic and Paralympic sports and some non-Olympic sports.

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Dr Jo Salter MBE

Dr Jo Salter MBE is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot, having flown the Panavia Tornado ground attack aircraft during her services in the Royal Air Force. Joining the RAF aged 18, Jo has since taken Air Cadets into the skies as part of Air Experience Flights, become the Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC, and most recently become a Global Advisory of GenAI for PwC.

Jo has piloted flights in the Air Cadets Air Experience Flights and inspired countless budding armed service members to pioneer a male-dominated sector, having been the leader of an all-male squadron. Since leaving the military behind, Jo has established a strong business career working in roles such as Head of Technical Services for NetConnect, European Operations Manager for Automated Power Exchange and Managing Director of Saltin Ltd.

Having developed first-class expertise in leadership, analytical thinking and performing under pressure, Jo is now a highly sought-after public speaker to share stories from her time in the skies.

Jo is a passionate Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity, an organisation that gives communities around the world access to clean water, education, healthcare and encourages female and youth empowerment. Jo has also authored two books, titled Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel and Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day.

In recognition of her achievements throughout her career, Jo has also been named as one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen. She is now working as the Director of Global Transformation Leadership at PWC, after working in other roles such as Director of Risk Technology Strategy, Director Chief of Staff to Head of Technology & Investments and the Director of People & Organisations.

In 2022, Jo was invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick. Most recently, Jo received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Bournemouth University.