Elament - eLanarkshire Mental Health Resource

This year for suicide prevention week ChooseLife North Lanarkshire are looking raise funds for Samaritans through Zumba! Zumba is a popular workout for many and a 4 hour Zumbathon will be a great way to burn the calories have fun and boost our mental health. Choose-Zumba Sunday the 11th of September at Ravenscraig Sports Complex. Log on to www.nl-zumba.com for more information.

Suicide Prevention Week
7th - 13th September 2009

To mark Suicide Prevention Week 2009 in Scotland, a nationwide campaign 'Suicide. Don't hide it. Talk about it' will be launched. As well as raising awareness and understanding of suicide, this campaign aims to remove the taboo about this issue, by encouraging people to talk to someone they trust or phone a helpline - all materials signpost to Breathing Space and the Samaritans.

To raise awareness of and mark Suicide Prevention Week in Lanarkshire, a week of events will take place. Further details can be found on the Calendar of Events.

LET'S KICK THE TABOO OF SUICIDE OUT OF LANARKSHIRE
SUICIDE. DON'T HIDE IT. TALK ABOUT IT

Motherwell FC have once again shown their outstanding commitment to using their profile to team up with Choose Life, North Lanarkshire Council, South Lanarkshire Council and NHS Lanarkshire, during suicide prevention week, to support the national suicide prevention message - 'Suicide. Don't hide it. Talk about it'.

Choose Life North Lanarkshire is linking with Motherwell FC and Rangers FC during the build up to their high profile televised match on Saturday 12th September. On match day, advertising space will be donated, information will be given out to supporters and there will be announcements throughout the game.

Significantly, both sets of players will wear black armbands in memory of all those who have lost their lives to suicide. At half-time, Motherwell will be presented with an award recognising their contribution to mental health improvement and suicide prevention.

Motherwell Manager Jim Gannon said: "I am delighted to continue Motherwell's commitment as a community club in Lanarkshire. I was saddened to hear that over two people per day die by suicide in Scotland. Each life lost to suicide is a tragedy. One suicide represents a lost life, lost talent, a lost mother or father, brother, sister, son or daughter, and a wound that does not easily heal in those who are left behind."

However, there is a positive message to share. We know that if we remove the taboo and make mental health problems and thoughts of suicide easier to talk about then we will save lives, particularly for men. We think that it is important to show that suicide can be talked about openly and that people can find help and alternatives to ending their lives. That's why the 'Suicide. Don't hide it. Talk about it' message is so important"

Greg Burgess, Choose Life Co-ordinator North Lanarkshire said, "There is a link between physical exercise and good mental health and we hope to encourage people to take positive steps to look after their own and others mental health. Working with Motherwell helps us share this message."

The suicide prevention message is also being taken around the streets of Lanarkshire through advertising on local buses. Michele Dowling, Choose Life Co-ordinator, South Lanarkshire said, "Working with our local buses helps us to take the suicide prevention message into the communities where people live, learn and work. We aim to reach as many people as possible. Suicide prevention is everyone' business."

All of us can make a difference. Most people thinking about suicide will try to let someone know. If you think someone you care about is considering suicide. You can help. Be ALERT

Ask if they have thought about suicide
Listen and show you care
Encourage them to get help
Right now
Tell someone. You can't do it alone.

If you or some you know needs help please speak to your GP or contact the following agencies who will be glad to help:

Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 (free to call 6pm -2am and weekends) www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 (24hr service) www.samaritans.org
Childline 0800 1111 (free 24hr service) www.childline.org.uk
National Debt Line 0808 808 4000 www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Or for mental health information in Lanarkshire visit:
www.lanarkshirementalhealth.org.uk

COMPETITION

To win a choose life t-shirt signed by the Motherwell team or the Rangers team please e-mail the answer to the following question to chooselife@samh.org.uk with your contact details indicating whether you wish to win the Rangers or Motherwell shirt. Entries must be in by Friday 2nd October 2009.

Which ex-Rangers captain managed Motherwell in 2005?

The Lanarkshire football club's manager Mark McGhee admitted that he had been saddened to hear about the number of people who committed suicide in this country. Taking time out from preparing his side for the high profile, televised visit of Celtic to promote the awareness event, held from 8-14 September, McGhee said: "I was shocked to hear that over two people per day die by suicide in Scotland...Each life lost to suicide is a tragedy. I have also learned that young men are at particular risk of suicide." "Suicide is thought of as being taboo but without talking about it more of our community will die."

McGhee hopes that football can play its part in reducing suicide rates. He said: "There is a link between physical exercise and good mental health and we hope to encourage this in our young fans and future players.
"If football can help get this message out there, then we at Motherwell FC are delighted to help in any way we can. All of us can make a difference - suicide prevention is everyone's business."

Demonstrating that suicide prevention is everyone's business are two local taxi companies, United Taxi's and Maxi's Taxi's. It is believed that the taxi companies are among the first in the world to support suicide prevention in such a committed way. Advertising space was given on the side of two taxi's showing the strap-line 'Suicide. Don't hide it. Talk about it' and 30,000 cards were distributed through 250 drivers throughout September.

Kate Fairley, duty manager with United Taxi's said: "I have been shocked to find out that so many lives are lost to suicide. I have also learned there is a close relationship between suicide and alcohol and drug problems. Our drivers can sometimes come into contact with people who may be in need of support and want to confide in a pleasant stranger."

"If we can help, then we are delighted to play our part."

Most people thinking about suicide will try to let someone know. If you think someone you care about is considering suicide, you can help.

If you or some you know needs help please speak to your GP or contact the following agencies who will be glad to help:
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87 (free to call 6pm -2am) www.breathingspacescotland.org
Samaritans 08457 90 90 90 (24hr service) www.samaritans.org.