Former Hollywood star and ex-Wimbledon footballer Vinnie Jones has warned that children spending too much time on screens is fuelling mental health problems. He says getting outdoors and playing football helped keep his own mental health issues at bay.
Vinnie Jones Slams Addictive Technology
The former Wimbledon midfielder said greater efforts were needed to help youngsters and young adults reconnect with the natural world. He opened up about the advantages of his own active lifestyle.
"I want to get kids outside," he said. "With my two grandchildren, I can't bear seeing them sitting two inches away from an iPad when they are here at the farm and they have the great outdoors at their disposal. I want to get them out into the countryside, building tree houses, catching fish and doing things like that. But they're hooked on these computer games."
"That's where I think a lot of mental health problems can start. If they're not stepping outside their front door, that can lead to negative mindsets and everything else that comes with it," he added.
The Benefits of an Active Childhood
As a youngster growing up outside Watford, Vinnie enjoyed a rural lifestyle, playing football with his mates, fishing and staying active. He said: "Being out in the countryside was a great release for us. We were climbing trees, swimming in canals and running across fields. There was no sign of any mental health issues with any of us, because I think we all had that release, along with the competitive side of football."
"We'd play two games on a Saturday and two on a Sunday, and that was our release as we had a large friendship group and camaraderie to support each other."
"There is a massive mental health problem, not only in this country, but across the world," he added. "I don't think it has really been addressed properly until now. People should feel able to say that it's OK to talk. It doesn't have to be as devastating as it may feel at the time. Life is hard enough without not addressing the problems."
Partnering with Ventus for Mental Health
The FA Cup winner is partnering with premium prize draw platform Ventus, which is supporting mental health charities as part of its launch draw. The firm is offering individuals the opportunity to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Croatia, including private jet travel, a seven-night crewed yacht experience and £10,000 spending money.
Entry to the competition costs as little as £15, and 20% of profits from each draw will be donated through Work for Good. On supporting worthwhile charitable causes, Vinnie said: "Supporting young people is important because they look up to us. We're on TV, we're in movies, we're in documentaries. As we get a little bit older, we realise we have a responsibility to the younger generation."
Chris Wall, founder at Ventus, said: "We're delighted to be partnering with Vinnie on this unique opportunity. Not only will people have the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip and create unforgettable memories, each paid entry will also contribute to charitable causes that create real-world impact."
If you win, you'll be able to enjoy a seven-night all-inclusive crewed yacht experience for you and up to three guests, private jet travel, and £10,000 spending money for the getaway.
Vinnie added: "We live on good memories. The trouble is that people often have more bad memories than good ones. This is something where we can create good memories for people."
