Wildcats to Host Second Mental Health Game for Lifeline WA

Perth Wildcats, Lifeline WA and Rio Tinto team up for Mental Health Game on World Mental Health Day

The Perth Wildcats will host their second Mental Health Game, presented by Rio Tinto in support of Lifeline WA, on World Mental Health Day, encouraging Western Australians to get behind the message that ‘Mental health is a team sport’.

The inaugural Mental Health Game in January 2026 raised more than $13,500 for Lifeline WA, helping cover the cost of 347 crisis calls for Western Australians in need.

Building on that success, the Mental Health Game will return to RAC Arena on Saturday, 10 October, when the Perth Wildcats take on the New Zealand Breakers.

Coinciding with World Mental Health Day, the game will use the reach of sport to encourage conversations about mental health and raise vital funds to support Lifeline WA’s crisis support services.

Fans will again have several opportunities to get behind the cause on game day, with Rio Tinto donating $500 to Lifeline WA for every successful Wildcats free throw.

The Perth Wildcats will also donate a portion of ticket sale proceeds directly to Lifeline WA, while fans at RAC Arena can score a limited-edition pair of Wildcats x Lifeline WA x Rio Tinto socks for a $5 donation to Lifeline WA, while stocks last.

Perth Wildcats Owner Mark Arena said the club recognised the important role sport could play in using its platform to make a difference in the community.

“As a club, we know the platform we have extends well beyond basketball, and we want to use it to make a positive difference. “We’re proud to stand alongside Lifeline WA and Rio Tinto again and hope the game encourages people to look out for one another and feel more comfortable reaching out for support.” 

Lifeline WA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Fordham said sporting collaborations could help bring conversations about mental health to people who might not otherwise be having them.

“Collaborations like this are so important because they put mental health right in the spotlight, and they take the conversation to people who might not otherwise be having it.

“Sport has a way of bringing people together, and that’s what makes it such a powerful platform. When you have an entire arena talking about mental health, it becomes that much easier for someone to reach out, to ask a loved one if they’re okay, or to recognise when someone close to them might need a bit of support.

“Mental health is a team sport, and every one of us has a role to play, whether we’re an employer, a teammate, a friend, a family member or a neighbour. When we all play our part, we build a community where people feel supported to ask for help, and where support is there to meet them when they do.”

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Vice President, People, Matt Kimball said the Mental Health Game was an opportunity to bring Western Australians together around an important message.

“At Rio Tinto, we believe mental health is a team sport. Whether it’s at work, at home, on the court or in our communities, looking out for each other can make a real difference. 

“Sometimes that can be as simple as checking in with someone and taking the time to really listen. This game is a reminder that we all have a role to play in looking out for the people around us.”

The Mental Health Game comes after Rio Tinto extended its partnership with Lifeline WA earlier this year, further strengthening the organisations’ shared commitment to mental health and suicide prevention across Western Australia.

The new four-year, $1.8 million partnership focuses on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Lifeline WA’s volunteer Crisis Supporters, as well as delivering mental health outreach and capacity-building training in regional communities, schools and frontline services across the state.

Funds raised through the Mental Health Game will help Lifeline WA continue to be there for Western Australians experiencing distress, crisis, loneliness or thoughts of suicide, whether they reach out by phone, text or online chat. 

The Mental Health Game also builds on Rio Tinto’s longstanding partnership with the Perth Wildcats and the organisations’ shared focus on supporting communities across Western Australia.

The Red Army can purchase tickets to the Mental Health Game via Ticketek.

Support information

If you or someone you know needs support, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 13 11 14.