Motherwell FC is delighted to announce a new sponsorship with North Lanarkshire Council Suicide Prevention.
With the new Ladbrokes Premiership kicking off on Saturday, this season’s new Macron home, away and third kits will be displaying the Suicide Prevention logo below each player’s squad number.
Motherwell FC has, over the years taken an active role in promoting mental health issues and challenging stigma, as the club itself has been touched by suicide and as a club, has been involved in a number of important mental health initiatives, including partnerships with ‘See me’, ‘Choose Life’ and ‘Steps for Stress’, in addition to a wide range of community programmes, to proudly establish itself as Scotland’s premier community club.
[pullquote]Working together we will harness the power of football to save lives.[/pullquote]
Kevin O’Neill, Public Mental Health & Wellbeing Development Manager said: “Motherwell Football Club have once again demonstrated why they are considered Scotland’s premier community club. The management, players, staff and community trust are a shining example that every organisation, workplace, community and person can play a part in making North Lanarkshire a place where we all feel okay talking about mental health, know how to look after our mental health, know what help is available and are compassionate in how we support others. Working together we will harness the power of football to save lives.”
As part of the sponsorship and in addition to the kit logo, Suicide Prevention branded boards will be displayed within Fir Park on the Phil O’Donnell and Cooper Stands, supported also with some marketing inventory which will be employed to engage with fans to promote their messages and contact phone numbers.
‘Well manager Mark McGhee said: “We are delighted to be in partnership with Suicide Prevention, and with their logo proudly displayed on the back of the team shirts, it will be seen by not just Motherwell fans but supporters across the country and in using our profile to raise awareness of this service is a positive step towards improving the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.”
“To further support this partnership, Motherwell FC management, players and staff will be participating in the 90 minutes to save a life suicide awareness training.”
[pullquote]Using our profile to raise awareness of this service is a positive step towards improving the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland.[/pullquote]
He added: “I’m making a personal plea to all Motherwell fans and the whole North Lanarkshire community to give 90 minutes to save a life. Over the coming weeks and months we will putting out information and dates for everyone to become part of a suicide safer North Lanarkshire.”
Just under one person dies by suicide in North Lanarkshire every week and the fact the majority are men, shows that we have a problem as men being open and comfortable talking about our mental health and asking for help. The Club want to send a message as fellow men and as a positive role models, that we all need to be ok talking about our mental health, know how to look after it, know what help is available and be compassionate in how we respond to others.
[pullquote]Over the coming weeks and months we will putting out information and dates for everyone to become part of a suicide safer North Lanarkshire.[/pullquote]
Breathing Space is a free and confidential phone and web based service for any individual who is experiencing low mood or depression, or who is unusually worried and in need of someone to talk to regardless of the issues, including relationship difficulties, stress at work, bereavement, isolation, loneliness and suicide.
Because many people suffering from low mood and depression feel particularly bad in the evenings, the lines are open from 6pm to 2am Monday to Thursday and 6pm on Friday to Monday 6am.
For emotional support, talk in confidence with trained advisors by calling Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87 or visit breathingspacescotland.co.uk.
More information can be found by logging onto northlanarkshire.gov.uk/safer or elament.org.uk