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KATE MIDDLETON AND WILLIAM CELEBRATE NHS’ 72ND BIRTHDAY Prince William has used his Royal Foundation to encourage the UK’s leading football organisations to treat mental health just as

important as physical health. The Mentally Healthy Football Declaration has been signed by governing bodies, leagues and organisations from the entire football pyramid across England, Wales,

Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Duke of Cambridge said the document will create a “collective game plan” and help to ensure mental health was a “top part in the game”. He said:

"I'm delighted to announce that today the entire football system across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, has united around a common goal, to develop a mentally

healthy culture across the game by signing a landmark mentally healthy football declaration. "Football is a team sport, for the first time, there is a collective game plan to make

mental health, the top part in the game." William who is also president of the Football Association said the aim was to create a culture where all those in the sport "are

encouraged to stay on top of their mental fitness, just as they do their physical fitness" and where speaking about a problem is seen as a sign of strength. Prince William has inspired

a declaration to help mental health in football (Image: GETTY) Prince William has said the mental health document will create a 'collective game plan' (Image: GETTY) He added:

"Not only will this benefit future generations, who work and play within the game, but it will also send a clear message to football's millions of fans, about the importance of

mental health." A number of high profile figures signed the document earlier this month, including England manager Gareth Southgate and the captains of England, Wales, Scotland and

Northern Ireland. The document states: “Now, more than ever, is the time for us to support each other and for all parts of society to prioritise mental health. “We will do everything we can

to play our part in this and help make football a 'mentally healthy' environment, now and in the future." Prince William took part in a documentary called A Royal Team Talk:

Tackling Mental Health (Image: BBC) Prince William has been instrumental in raising awareness of mental health, especially in young men, and last year featured in a moving BBC documentary

along with a number of football stars. In 2019, William took part in a documentary called A Royal Team Talk: Tackling Mental Health, which featured Peter Crouch, Danny Rose, Thierry Henry,

Jermaine Jenas and Gareth Southgate. The group discussed a range of topics from depression to racism and William stressed the importance to “normalise the whole conversation” surrounding

mental health. READ MORE: QUEEN BEAMS AS MONARCH BREAKS WITH TRADITION IN ROYAL FAMILY FIRST RELATED ARTICLES The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Foundation donated £1.8m to charity

(Image: GETTY) Last week, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Foundation donated £1.8million to 10 mental health charities and to help front-line emergency workers. Kate and William

spoke privately with two emergency responders and two mental health counsellors whose organisations are being supported by the fund. One of the benefactors will be the mental health charity

Mind, the organisation will receive a grant to support more than 250,000 working or volunteering in the ambulance, fire, police, and search and rescue services. DON'T MISS CORONAVIRUS:

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SAYS NICK FERRARI [COMMENT] RELATED ARTICLES The line of succession to the British throne (Image: EXPRESS) The fund will provide access to peer-to-peer support, training and mental health

resources. The Ambulance Staff Charity will also be able to provide an additional 2,780 hours of support for crews, and teachers, pupils and their parents will be helped to cope with issues

such as anxiety. Kate said: “Over recent months we have all been in awe of the incredible work that frontline staff and emergency responders have been doing in response to Covid-19. “But we

know that for many of them, their families, and for thousands of others across the UK, the pandemic will have a lasting impact on their mental health.”