Bradford sports teams, charities and health partners team up to mark World Suicide Prevention Day

Article dated Thursday Sep 7, 2023 at 11:43 AM

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Major sports teams in Bradford are pitching in with charities and health partners across the area to mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2023.

Every year, organisations and communities join together for the awareness-raising day on 10 September, to focus attention on suicide prevention and of the support available to anyone having suicidal thoughts, and those affected by suicide.

This year in Bradford, a number of activities are taking place on and around the day itself, organised by Bradford Council’s Public Health team, the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership (WY HCP), mental health charities and also the district’s leading sports teams.

Bradford City FC, Bradford Bulls, Keighley Cougars, and Yorkshire County Cricket Club will all be dedicating games to WY HCP’s Check In With Your Mate (CIWYM) campaign which encourages people to talk to their friends, particularly the men in their lives, if they’re feeling low.

The campaign’s website www.checkinwithyourmate.co.uk explains what to say if you think someone could be suicidal, as well as providing a range of local support services.

Activities kicked off early with Keighley Cougars dedicating last week’s fixture against Barrow Raiders to the Check in With Your Mate campaign.

Players could be seen warming up in the distinctive yellow and black ‘CIWYM’ T-shirts and information about the campaign was provided in leaflets and on TV screens at the stadium.

Spectators can also expect to see the Check in With Your Mate campaign being promoted at the following fixtures:

  • Bradford City vs Grimsby Town, Valley Parade, 9 September
  • Bradford Bulls vs York Knights, Odsal Stadium, 10 September
  • England vs Ireland One Day International at Headingly Stadium, 20 September

Andy’s Man Club, a local mental health charity that provides mental health and wellbeing support to men will also be at the Bulls vs Grimsby game providing advice and support to those who need it. 

As part of World Suicide Prevention Day activities, people across Bradford are also being urged to sign up to become Suicide Prevention Champions, to help break stigma and raise awareness around suicide.  The campaign, launched by WY HCP, aims to recruit a growing cohort of Champions who can access all the latest suicide prevention news, resources, support services and information to help spread the world and encourage action. To find out more and sign up, visit https://suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk/becomeachampion/.

Mental health charity Mind in Bradford will also be running a stall in Broadway Bradford on 9th and 12th September, as well as at the Bulls vs Grimsby game, where they will be recruiting people to become Champions.

Sarah Muckle, Director of Public Health at Bradford Council said, “Tragically the number of suicides annually in West Yorkshire has increased in recent years. Through initiatives like World Suicide Prevention Day, Check in With Your Mate and West Yorkshire Suicide Prevention Champions, we can help break the stigma, encourage conversations about mental health, and ultimately save lives.”

Rob Webster CBE, CEO for NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and CEO Lead for WY HCP, said: “World Suicide Prevention Day provides an important opportunity to put this issue at the top of the agenda and highlight how we can all take action to create a world where fewer people die by suicide.

“Suicides are preventable – they are not inevitable. By learning what we can do to help break stigma, raise awareness and signpost to support, we can work together to bring the suicide rate down.

“It’s great to have the support of Bradford sports clubs in promoting the importance of checking in on our mates and I’d also urge all to consider signing up to become Suicide Prevention Champions – you might just save a life.”

Bradford City Hall, which this year is celebrating its 150th year, will also be lit up yellow on 10 September to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day.

People in Bradford who have been affected by suicide can access our free specialist bereavement support service, which is delivered by trained staff who have also been affected by suicide. Contact: www.leedsmind.org.uk/sbs  or  0113 305 5800

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