90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis

The tragic, recent news of young grassroots footballers Jack Badger (24) and Riley Townsend (12) who both died by suicide have brought the crisis we face in society closer to the coal face of grassroots football.

These two tragedies are not isolated. The silence around male mental health is deafening, and it’s costing lives. We believe that the football community needs more support and education around male suicide.

Football at all levels isn't just about the game; it's about community, friendships and support.

Yet, beneath the surface, many men are struggling with mental health challenges they feel they cannot voice. The alarming rise in male suicide, particularly within our football communities, demands immediate attention.

This webinar is a call to action.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK. In football, where resilience, strength and 'toughness' are often mistaken for silence, the crisis is deepening. We need to talk about it, not just as individuals but as individuals, teams, clubs and communities.

We need to break the silence, challenge the culture and save lives.

FREE - BOOK NOW

Expert: Steve Whittle
Founder - Tough to Talk

Steve Whittle is a renowned figure in the fight against male suicide, known for founding the charity 'Tough To Talk'. As a seasoned speaker, author and presenter, he focuses on male suicide prevention and men's mental health crises. His journey is deeply personal, having faced the male suicide crisis firsthand, which fuels his dedication as an assessor and tutor in suicide prevention training.

Steve's expertise and influence are recognised nationally, having spoken at high-profile events hosted by The FA, the National Advancing Men's Mental Health Conference, and the Emergency Services Show.

Committed to dismantling stigma, cognitive dissonance and toxic masculinity, Steve aims to build an environment where men feel empowered to seek help. His mission is to reshape societal norms and obliterate the stigma surrounding men's mental health, driving significant change in communities worldwide.

Host: Danny Matharu
Founder - The FMHA

This webinar is a result of FMHA being contacted by Wiltshire FA and Swindon & District Community Football League, the league that Jack Badger played in.

We're proud to have partnered with Steve and Tough to Talk on this event.

Here at The FMHA this sadly isn't the first time we have been contacted by either a coach, player or volunteer within football about the devastation of suicide. Once is too many, and it's become all too regular to hear from those who have been affected by this.

We hope that this webinar will go some way to educating and supporting the football community.

We will be offering referrals to our partner organisations below who will be present at the event and who can help if you, or someone you know is suffering.

In this 90 minute session we will cover:

1. Recognising the Signs: Understanding the often hidden signals of suicidal ideation in men.

2. The Impact of Football Culture: How the ‘toughen up’ mentality in football contributes to mental health struggles.

3. Tools for Conversations: Practical strategies for coaches, players and parents/carers to initiate supportive conversations.

4. Creating a Safe Space in Teams: How to create a team environment where vulnerability is accepted and support is accessible.

5. Support Systems: A guide to local and national resources and organisations for mental health and suicide prevention within the football community.

FREE - BOOK NOW

Football Mental Health Alliance Help Beyond the Pitch

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis - in association with:

Information on our Experts and Partner Organisations

Ged Flynn

CEO - PAPYRUS

Ged leads the national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide.

PAPYRUS aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.

Martin Roberts

Founder - Keep in Mind

A teenage survivor of the Hillsborough disaster.

Martin found himself in 2017 on the brink of suicide following the death of his mother, his father’s cancer diagnosis, his wife developing a rare bone tumour and having to relive Hillsborough all over again through the ongoing legal proceedings.

Alice Hendy MBE

CEO - R;pple Suicide Prevention

Alice Hendy MBE is the founder & CEO of R;pple Suicide Prevention, a charity focused on intercepting harmful online content related to self-harm and suicide.

Her motivation to start R;pple stemmed from a personal tragedy; Alice lost her younger brother, Josh, to suicide at the age of 21 after researching techniques to take his own life online.

Jake Mills

CEO - Chasing the Stigma

Jake Mills is the founder and CEO of Chasing the Stigma.

He established the charity following his own battle with depression and suicide attempt in 2013. From a place of despair and personal turmoil, Jake created the Hub of Hope, a ground-breaking mental health database that has since become the UK’s biggest & most comprehensive.

Marcus Pereira

Founder - Mean & Clean

Marcus battled with an addiction to cocaine which cost him his job, family and almost his life. He reached out to Jody for help and he’s now completely clean and sober, has his family back and is now using his experiences of substance abuse and recovery to develop personalised individual recovery plans.

Jody Hopwood-Fox

Founder - Mean & Clean

Jody is a qualified personal trainer and nutritional advisor. During some difficult personal times, Jody turned to alcohol to cope which developed in to a year long dependency.
After the alcohol addiction almost took his life, Jody vowed to become sober and help others to do the same.

TOUGH TO TALK

TOUGH TO TALK is a pioneering charity dedicated to breaking the silence around male suicide and promoting mental health awareness.

Founded on the principle that every man should have access to support when he needs it most, we are committed to changing lives and making a difference.

We help organisations who want to support their men, tackle the real issues they are facing using positive action, designed specifically with men in mind delivered in a way that men can access and engage with.

VISIT TOUGH TO TALK

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

The national charity PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide aims to reduce the number of young people who take their own lives by breaking down the stigma around suicide and equipping people with the skills to recognise and respond to suicidal behaviour.

The charity offers suicide prevention training to groups and individuals, engages with local communities across the UK and supports a group of volunteers, many of whom have lived experience of suicide.

HOPELINE247 is the charity’s confidential helpline service providing practical advice and support to young people with thoughts of suicide and anyone concerned about a young person who may have thoughts of suicide. HOPELINE247 is staffed by trained professionals, offering a telephone, text and email service.

For practical, confidential suicide prevention help and advice please contact PAPYRUS HOPELINE247 on 0800 068 4141, text 88247 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org

VISIT PAPYRUS

R;pple Suicide Prevention

Transforming harmful into a journey of hope. Discreetly intercepting flagged search terms and signposting to free, 24/7 mental health support

R;pple is an innovative online interceptive tool designed to ensure more help and support is provided to individuals conducting searches related to self-harm or suicide. Our focus is on proactive intervention, bridging the gap between individuals in crisis and the help they require.

By installing R;pple on your device, or supporting our mission, you become a part of a movement dedicated to saving lives and promoting a brighter, better-informed conversation around mental health.

VISIT R;PPLE

Chasing the Stigma

Chasing the Stigma is a national mental health charity on a mission to normalise and humanise conversations about mental health, whilst ensuring that everyone in the UK can access clear pathways to support, whenever and wherever they need it.

With lived experience at our core, we are driven to create a society where there is no longer a stigma associated with mental health, where people are as comfortable talking about their mental health as their physical health, and where everyone is able to find appropriate support before they reach a point of crisis, leading to a significant long-term reduction in self-harm and suicide.

We strive to achieve this through the provision of pioneering training services, awareness-raising campaigns and lobbying activities whilst also operating the UK’s largest and most comprehensive directory of community mental health services, the Hub of Hope.

VISIT CHASING THE STIGMA

Keep in Mind

Keep in Mind, founded by mental health advocate Martin Roberts, offers tailored mental health support for organisations through consultancy, workshops, and keynote talks.

With a personal and inspiring approach, Martin shares his journey to help organisations implement impactful mental health strategies and create employee-focused wellbeing programs.

Keep in Mind’s services are designed to enhance resilience, openness, and positive mental health practices within diverse work settings, creating supportive, mentally healthy environments.

VISIT KEEP IN MIND

Mean and Clean

Mean and Clean offer a safe space for people struggling with a variety of addiction problems to find purpose in life again.

Mean and Clean promote the importance and benefits of physical exercise and quality nutrition to battle and recover from addiction. We advocate that addiction is a real illness and should be taken seriously, being one hundred percent dedicated to helping people take the first step by asking for help.

We will help people to physically and mentally recover from the disease which is addiction.

VISIT MEAN AND CLEAN

Suicide is the number one preventable cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK.

10 men die by suicide every day in England and Wales (The statistics for Scotland are higher)

Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.

The suicide rate for persons aged 10 to 24 years in England significantly increased from 2012-2016 and 2018-2022 by 22.7%

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis - in association with England's County FAs

Book Now - Free
Thursday 28th November 2024
6.30pm - 8.00pm

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The resources and support provided in The Vault are designed to promote mental wellbeing and provide general guidance on mental health related to grassroots football.

However, the content is not intended to serve as specific mental health advice or replace consultation with a trained professional. If you or someone you know requires personalised mental health support, we strongly encourage you to consult with a licensed mental health professional or seek appropriate services in your area.

The Vault also offers signposting to help you find organisations that can provide more specialised assistance when needed.

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide CrisisThursday 28th November6.30pm - 8.00pmFREE - Online via MS Teams

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis

Expert: Steve WhittleFounder - Tough to Talk

Host: Danny MatharuFounder - The FMHA

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis - in association with:

Information on our Experts and Partner Organisations

Ged Flynn

Martin Roberts

Alice Hendy MBE

Jake Mills

Marcus Pereira

Jody Hopwood-Fox

TOUGH TO TALK

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

R;pple Suicide Prevention

Chasing the Stigma

Keep in Mind

Mean and Clean

Suicide is the number one preventable cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK.

10 men die by suicide every day in England and Wales (The statistics for Scotland are higher)

Men are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.

The suicide rate for persons aged 10 to 24 years in England significantly increased from 2012-2016 and 2018-2022 by 22.7%

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis - in association with England's County FAs

Book Now - FreeThursday 28th November 20246.30pm - 8.00pm

90 Minutes to Tackle the Male Suicide Crisis

Thursday 28th November
6.30pm - 8.00pm
FREE - Online via MS Teams

Expert: Steve Whittle
Founder - Tough to Talk

Host: Danny Matharu
Founder - The FMHA

Book Now - Free
Thursday 28th November 2024
6.30pm - 8.00pm