Clyde Backs Suicide Prevention

Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire has entered into a unique shirt sponsorship agreement with Clyde and the three other local professional football teams.

Clyde, Motherwell, Airdrieonians and Albion Rovers will all be displaying the Suicide Prevention logo on the back of their strips during season 2018-19.

Each club will also be displaying prominent suicide prevention messages around their stadiums throughout the upcoming season.

Suicide is responsible for more deaths in Scotland each year than traffic accidents, and in particular affects young men. Almost one person every week dies by suicide in North Lanarkshire, and the local clubs have all pledged to support Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire to help raise awareness that help is available for those who need it.

Council Deputy Leader, Paul Kelly said: “We work with the local football teams on a number of initiatives and this partnership is vital in helping raise awareness around this sensitive area. Suicide devastates lives across Scotland every day of every week. It is vital that if people are feeling suicidal or down that they know help is available.

“We need to let people know it helps to talk if you are feeling worried or concerned. By working together we can have a greater impact in preventing suicide.”

Lynne MacDonald, Senior Social Work Officer with North Lanarkshire Council added: “This partnership means we can use football as a means to reach out to more people to reduce suicide.

“We want to make people aware that there is help available if they are concerned about suicide or are worried about friends or family members. By raising awareness of how to recognise the signs sometimes associated with suicide, people will be in a better position to offer support and perhaps save lives.”

Clyde chairman, Norrie Innes added:-

“Dealing with pain is part of life, whether it be financial, physical or emotional. We all need support – all of us! No one person exists that can go through life without it and this can come though family, friends and qualified organisations like Suicide Prevention. Our alignment with Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire, NHS and our footballing friends in North Lanarkshire forms a positive support structure within football. Football can help in this good and strong purpose.

“In football, peripheral vison on the park is a quality most good players possess. It is incumbent on all of us to develop this life skill off the park, in relation to being aware of what is happening to all of those around us and to communicate, engage and help people in need that are within our reach and influence.

“At Clyde, we will continually seek ways to help those in need and we look forward very much to the combined efforts of Suicide Prevention making a positive difference.”