Carlisle Eden Mind (who work to empower, educate and support people with mental health issues), and Every Life Matters (the Cumbrian-based Suicide Prevention Chairity), will be visiting us once again for the home game with Shrewsbury Town, to raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention and support.
Both charities will be present in the Fan Zone on Saturday from 12.30pm if anyone wishes to speak to them about any aspect of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
Saturday 10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day and we want to use the football club as an outlet to reach out to many people who may have experienced suicide amongst family or friends, who are experiencing it now, or may experience it in the future.
Every Life Matters are raising awareness, offering support, helping to identify the signs that a person may be considering suicide, and on how to help them.
Sarah Cameron, Safer Communities Worker from Every Life Matters said: “Talking about suicide saves lives and we’re proud to be partnering with Carlisle United and Carlisle Eden Mind to help raise awareness for this year’s World Suicide Prevention day on the 10 September.
“We know that suicide has a profound effect on our communities and within Cumbria we have rates of suicide 50% higher than the national average. That’s why we’re encouraging people to take simple actions this year to help make our communities suicide safer.
“Starting an honest conversation with a mate if you’re worried about them, sharing information about where to get help, and also signing up to our training which can equip people to make these lifesaving interventions.
“By being brave and talking about this subject we ensure that lives are saved, and people get the help and support they need. Around one in five people are affected by thoughts of suicide in a lifetime, and we realise that we should talk about this subject far more openly given how many people it can affect.”
If you have been affected by suicide, need help for yourself or want to support a friend experiencing thoughts of suicide, you can find valuable information and resources at www.every-life-matters.org.uk or come and visit the Every Life matters stall on the 2 September and speak to a member of our team.
Click HERE to learn more about Every Life Matters – Suicide Safer Cumbria.
Carlisle Eden Mind are also working very hard in the area to support people experiencing mental health issues and were keen to utilise the opportunity to come to Carlisle United to showcase what they do, and be available to talk to anyone wishing to speak with them.
Click HERE to learn more about Carlisle Eden Mind.
Walk to the Match
Walk to the Match on Saturday will be returning, with the aim of getting people talking about their mental health as well as being a sustainable method of getting to and from the game.
We will be starting the walk from outside the front steps of the Old Town Hall in Carlisle City Centre around 1pm, walking to Brunton Park via the Castle, Bitts Park, Eden Bridge and Rickerby Park, and arriving at the game in good time to enjoy the Fan Zone before kick-off.
Carlisle United is committed to a sustainable future and one great method of doing that is to ditch the car and get our walking shoes on to Walk to the Match.
Anyone who wants to join the walk please meet at the Old Town Hall just before 1pm on Saturday.
Nigel Davidson, Fan Director and EDI & Mental Health Officer said: “It’s amazing to welcome back Every Life Matters and to welcome Carlisle Eden Mind for the game on Saturday.
“They are here to offer support and raise awareness around mental health and suicide prevention and it’s great that we can supply this platform which reaches so many people across the county and further afield.
“Mental health is such an important issue in today’s society, particularly around men, who seem to be more reluctant to talk about their issues, so if by being here at Brunton Park, ELM and CEM can impact this in any way, then they will have gone a small way to achieving their goal.
“Walking to the Match is not only a great way to talk about issues that may be affecting you, but also a way of helping the club on its sustainability journey.
“Longer-term we are committed to a sustainable future, but it starts with small steps and building on the ‘Green Football Weekend’, which we participated in back in February 2023.
“We are really keen to develop further initiatives in this area and participate in 2024.”
Click HERE to learn more about the Green Football Weekend.
Click HERE to learn more about Pledgeball
Click HERE to learn more about the EFL Together initiative.
