Will Vaulks: Football's Mental Health Warrior

0:00On April 8th, Oxford United Midfielder Will Valks is calling out the football world for skimping on suicide prevention efforts. The 32-year-old former Wales International leaves the club's Can We Talk campaign to boost mental health awareness at work. For his push, he's up for the English Football League's Community Player of the Season Award after snagging the 5th pro player's voice honor last year. He spent the past year urging every club in England to adopt their training program, but it's been a real grind to get buy-in. Valks draws from tough personal losses, like both Grandfathers dying by suicide in one year. Plus Oxford legends Joey Bochamp and young fan Jack, Badger in recent times. That grief sparked the club's tie-up with charity badden of hope, rolling out hands-on prevention training for all players and staff. He straight up telling other clubs they owe it to their young athletes and workers in this high-pressure game to step up with real support, not just, likes and shares.

1:00Football's fun and fierce, but Valks is proving one voice can demand better safeguards across the pitch.