Mark Hughes believes football can do a “huge job” in raising awareness on suicide in young men.
Manchester United legend Hughes has joined a new campaign Shining A Light On Suicide to try and tackle the issue as it is the biggest killer of young men under 49 and affects football as well as wider society.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham has joined with the League Managers’ Association to launch the initiative while there is also a new 20 minute Zero Suicide Alliance video to help bosses throughout the game.
Ex-Manchester City, Fulham and Stoke boss Hughes said: “It’s a really important message. Our reach of football is worldwide and obviously we are starting in the Greater Manchester area but clearly there’s a need further afield as well.
“I just think football sometimes gets a bad press in terms on the influence we have on the field of play, how we behave but for the most part football does a huge job, and a great job on a list of difficult subjects on how to deal with them.
“I’ve had team-mates who struggled with mental health, team-mates who lost their lives to suicide as well. It’s very difficult.
“But I think this campaign is really important. We need more knowledge, a greater empathy and more understanding of how we cast a shadow sometimes as managers when we make decision. We can all improve our emotional intelligence.”
Former Wales boss Gary Speed, an ex-international team-mate of Hughes, tragically hung himself in 2011 and suicide is also an issue for young players dropping out of the game.
LMA chief executive Richard Bevan said the tragic suicide of ex-Crawley Town boss Dermot Drummy in 2017 also raised awareness among bosses and his organisation.
Bevan said: “Dermot Drummy was a wonderfully down to earth and caring man and there was much learning after he died by suicide by what we should be doing two internally and there are two in-house psychiatrists in the LMA.
“Our health panel is really making a difference in terms of how we communicate and that’s really good.”
Burnham added: “I think football is the most effective vehicle for change. It’s a society issue. Football led a change in society, I’ve no doubt about it as we’ve seen in more recent times that football and other sports leading the conversation on mental health.
“Football has a particular way of communicating to younger men and that’s its power in this context when we know that suicide is the biggest killer or young men. We are better at talking about mental health but not broken this taboo of suicide.
“One in five of us will experience suicidal thoughts and there’s absolutely the chance for football to step in and lead once again as it has done in the past.
“I’m so grateful to football and managers stepping forward and making their voice because it will absolutely connect with people and football will absolute make a difference.”
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
