Cumberland FA have teamed up with Every Life Matters – a local organisation promoting Suicide Safer Communities which also provides Suicide Bereavement Support across Cumbria.

Every Life Matters provides local Community Action, Raises Awareness, offers a Training Programme, Focussed Intervention and Community Support. 

The phased return of football across Cumberland has been welcomed by players, referees, volunteers and spectators alike. Covid-19 has now had a far-reaching impact on people right across the world in many ways and it’s important during this time now more than ever to take care of the mind as well as the body.

Cumberland FA are aiming to get all local Clubs involved in raising the awareness of ‘Every Life Matters’ to support the Suicide Safe Communities project. 

Ian Alcock, from Every Life Matters commented “Getting suicide prevention messages out to clubs, coaches, players and anyone involved in grassroots football is a really big deal for us and we were very keen to work collaboratively with the Cumberland FA to do so. We know interventions are possible, suicides can be prevented, we want to encourage people to feel able to talk openly and directly about suicide, to combat the stigma that leads to too many people having to suffer alone with these dark thoughts.”  

Ways Clubs can support this: 
Download and distribute some of the information / flyers across the Club
Join in with our ‘Week of Action’ starting this Sunday – a Social Media campaign raising the awareness to ‘Reach Out and Talk’ and ‘Its ok to Ask’
Clubs can order a free Paper or Digital Suicide Prevention Resource Pack. Get some conversations started and help spread hope.
Promote the FREE online course

Click HERE to find out more about Suicide Safer Communities

Thursday 10th September is World Suicide Prevention Day

Every Life Matters are training 180 people in life saving skills on the 10th September!

A 60-minute free online Suicide Awareness Session. Spot the signs, ask the question, save a life.
The FREE online session is for anyone in Cumbria who has an interest in learning more about suicide and gaining lifesaving skills and knowledge.

Although the 10th September online sessions are full, there are more dates available – we urge you to book on at your earliest opportunity to avoid missing out.

Click HERE to book

Ian continued “Talking about suicide openly and directly doesn’t hurt. It doesn’t increase the risk of it happening or put ideas in people’s heads. That’s a myth. The real risk is not mentioning it at all. Trust your gut instincts. If you at all worried someone is having thoughts of suicide, ASK them. And Ask directly.
We know that times are tough right now, and for some this may lead to thoughts of suicide. But whatever your situation things can get better. There is the lifeline of help and support available if you reach out.” 

Every Life Matters have a produced a ‘Guide to looking after yourself and others’ which contains practical information about things you can do now to look after your mental health and wellbeing, and how you can support others.

Download Guide to looking after yourself and others 

Cumberland FA’s Every Life Matters contact is Ian Alcock – 074748 08761 ian.alcock@every-life-matters.org.uk

More Useful information from The FA
The FA’s Mental Health Guide for Referees

mental health guidance for coaches and managers


VISIT THE FA’S USEFUL RESOURCES


Further Support

If you have been affected by any of the information contained within this press release (or article), or are having thoughts of suicide, the following helplines are here to support you. 

Samaritans – Call 116 123 – There round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

PAPYRUS – Call 0800 068 41 41 – Support line for young people at risk of suicide. Various opening hours.

CALM – Call 0800 58 58 58. Men’s Helpline open 5pm – Midnight

Shout Crisis Text Service – Text Shout to 85258 to get 24/7 text support

Young Minds Crisis Text Service – Text YM to 85258 to get instant support

MindLine Cumbria – 0300 561 0000 Mental health information, guidance and support. Various opening hours.

For more information about where to get help when you are struggling with thoughts of suicide, or how you can support someone at risk, visit https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/find-support/ 

We can all play a role in helping people whose mental health at risk. The smallest displays of kindness, like picking up the phone to check-in on someone, and the conversation that follows, could make the difference. You don’t need to solve their problems and knowing someone cares could be enough to get them through. And perhaps even save a life.

There are often warning signs that someone is having thoughts of suicide. What someone is saying, how they are behaving, and what is happening in their lives. Visit HERE today to find out what they are, and what all of us can do to support someone with thoughts of suicide.

Encourage someone with thoughts of suicide to reach out for support. There are lots of organisations who can help people in financial difficulties. Visit https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/get-help/ for more information. You can even help them by supporting them at meetings, or helping devise an action plan to move forward.