For a number of seasons Cumberland FA have worked in partnership with Every Life Matters, Cumbria to promote Suicide Safer Communities.

Now, Cumberland FA are once again raising the awareness of the vital link with local charity Every Life Matters as well as links to further support for your mental health.

Every Life Matters provides local Community Action, Raises Awareness, offers a Training Programme, Focussed Intervention and Community Support. It also provides Suicide Bereavement support.

A number of Cumberland FA based teams now wear the logo of Every Life Matters to increase the awareness on the football pitch as well as behind the scenes. Cumberland FA are keen to continue to promote the partnership and continue to raise the profile of the organisation across the football family and beyond.

Every Life Matters have put some information together to support those who are worried about others.

Read on for some tips to share across your Clubs to help reduce the stigma attached to suicide.

If you’re worried that someone may be having thoughts of suicide it can be really hard to know what to say to them, or how to help. 

But the best thing you can do is ask directly. “Are you thinking about suicide?” 

This will not put ideas in their head and will show them they don’t have to struggle alone with these overwhelming thoughts. 

And the conversation that follows could be a lifesaver. 

To find out more about how you can ask visit https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/woried-about-someone/ 
 
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. This might include;

• Talk about, or post social media messages about, wanting to die, feeling hopeless, trapped or having no reason to live, that the world would be better without them, or that they are a burden to others.

• Show unexpected mood changes such as suddenly being calm after a long period of depression, giving away possessions or making a will, increased risky behaviour or self-harming, or researching suicide online.

• Have had by a major loss or change in their life, an accumulation or build-up of problems before Covid-19, or be facing financial, relationship or housing hardship.

But thinking about suicide does not make it inevitable that someone is going to take their own life, and all of us have the ability to support someone who is experiencing thoughts of suicide, and to save lives. Visit https://www.every-life-matters.org.uk/woried-about-someone/ today to find out more.

Shaun Blezard, Suicide Safer Communities Coordinator with Every Life Matters, said: “It is really amazing to work in partnership with Cumberland FA to raise awareness about this important message. With the support of the grassroots football community over the last 2 years we are empowering more people to have the confidence to start open conversations about suicide, which ultimately save lives."

Cumberland FA will be sharing more information on this via our social media over the next month and we’re asking Clubs to share these across their networks to increase the reach of the posts.

Mental Health Football Sessions

Cumberland FA is proud to deliver two Mental Health Football Sessions on a weekly basis:

Mental Health Football

Day: Every Thursday, 5:30-6:30pm

Venue: Workington Leisure Centre

Sessions are free and open to anyone aged 18+ who may benefit. To register your interest, email development@cumberlandfa.com or call 01946 511 800.

Clear Your Head Kick About

Day: Every Wednesday, 7-8pm

Venue: Copeland Sports Academy

Sessions are free and open to anyone aged 18+ who may benefit. To register your interest, email cuccg.copelandsp@nhs.net or call Robyn on 01946 59998.

More information from Every Life Matters

Every Life Matter's training programme aims to reduce the stigma attached to suicide, increase understanding of when someone is at risk of suicide, raise awareness of how to practically support someone, and the range of services and resources available for people in our communities experiencing suicidal thoughts.

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.

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.