A Kent football league has entered into a partnership with The Samaritans in a bid to raise awareness of male suicide.

Officers of the Herne Bay & Whitstable Sunday League were shocked to learn that most of the players turning out every weekend fell into the age group that is most at risk.

The league has over 1,000 registered players, across four divisions, and chairman Phil Knight said the initiative is about letting people know there is help for those who need it.

He explained: "I was recently at a presentation about suicide prevention where it was highlighted that the most at risk group for suicide are 18 through to 44 year-old men and I was just sitting there and thought 'Hang on they're our players' so linking up with The Samaritans just seemed a natural thing for us to do."

The league's plans include inviting coaches to attend a course about suicide awareness.

They have also distributed posters and cards to clubs and there is an advertisement in the league handbook.

Mr Knight said the league were reminded of their social responsibilities when the mental health charity MIND teamed-up with the English Football League in 2018 to promote awareness and understanding of mental health among football fans.

He explained: "MIND are one of the key partners of the English Football League so every shirt has the MIND logo on it, it's the first time a charity logo has been incorporated onto players' shirts.

"We just talked about it from a social responsibility, point of view.

"It's not a sponsorship. basically it's just to get the Samaritan message out there, that it's good to talk.

"It's okay, sometimes you won't feel good, but there's no no need to hide from that."

League vice-chairman Arnie van Orsouw has been involved in running teams since the 1980s and he says club managers and secretaries are ideally placed to notice a change in a person's behaviour or demeanour.

He explained: "We're going to run some suicide awareness training with the coaches as well because that's where they are in a good position to see things.

"They know their boys, they turn up every Sunday and the coach will pick up very quickly if one of them isn't quite right.

"This is just saying as part of that just think about 'Is there something wrong?

"It might just be what he needs to open up. That's all it is. It's not about this is what we do in terms on counselling, it's actually saying 'Have you thought about talking to someone?

"We've given them posters, we've given them cards to give to each of the players with numbers.

"It's in the handbook, on the website It's just about reminding people that the Samaritans are there.

"We'll never know, There might be one player who has got that card and he gives it to someone or he makes the call himself we'll never know.

"It's just awareness. It's a good message and if it just helps one person it will be worth it."

Peter Lansley is director of the Canterbury & District Samaritans. He welcomed the initiative with the league saying: "One thing we’re acutely aware of is that men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women.

"We also know that in spite of all the important coverage given to mental health issues in the media generally, men are still reluctant to open up about stuff that’s getting them down. More worryingly, suicide rates are beginning to rise.

"That’s why this partnership is so important to us. Thanks to Phil’s initiative in getting the whole thing moving, we’re hoping that everyone involved with the league will become better at understanding what their mates might be going through.

"Blokes often think that laughing things off is the best policy – sadly, that’s not always true."

Mr Lansley said that some people struggle talking about their feelings with family and friends and that is when The Samaritans can often provide a listening ear.

He added: "Talking to friends and family can sometimes make people feel so vulnerable and that’s when they think of turning to us.

"We offer people a safe place where they can talk without any fear of being judged or “reappraised” – and they certainly don’t need to be actually suicidal to call us. It makes much better sense to talk before things get that bad."

The Samaritans offer a free call number: 116 123 and stress that their helplines are open 24/7.

The organisation desperately need more volunteers. Anyone wanting to help should visit their website.

*The Herne Bay & Whitstable Sunday League are now focusing on the planning for the new season and are currently accepting applications for new teams. They can call 07716 200303 or email the league at hbwsundayleague@gmail.com for ore details.

*Due to the coronavirus outbreak The Samartitans are unable to offer face to face support at their branches but they do have plenty of advice online and their telephone service remains available

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) says nearly 800,000 people die due to suicide every year, which is one person every 40 seconds.
• There are indications that for each adult who dies by suicide there may have been more than 20 others attempting suicide.
• The WHO say suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year-olds globally.
• The Samaritans are the only organisation which collates figures on suicide rates in the UK.
• The results of the most recent survey, released in September 2019, revealed that in 2018 suicide rates in the United Kingdom jumped for the first rise since 2013.
• There was a significant increase among men who accounted for three-quarters of the number of people who took their own lives.
• The UK & Republic of Ireland saw 6,859 suicides – 6,507 of which were in the UK (a rate of 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people and up11.8% on the previous year)
• Men are three times as likely to die by suicide than women.
• Men aged 45-49 still have the highest rate of suicides (27.1 deaths per 100,000). The suicide rate increased for this group in 2018.
• The rate of deaths among those aged 10 to 24 increased by 23.7%, reaching 730 deaths in 2018 – a 19-year high. The rate for young females reached an all-time high
• Ruth Sutherland, chief executive of Samaritans, said: “It is extremely worrying that, for the first time in five years, the suicide rate in the UK has increased, with 686 more deaths than in 2017."

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