A West Belfast GAA club is going without sponsorship so they can get a positive mental health message on their jerseys.
Colin Gaels has the Lifeline number on tops worn by players from U6 and U8 Boys in a bid to raise awareness around issues including suicide.
The “small club with a mighty heart is leading by example by promoting positive mental health”, according to its Vice Chair Debbie Murray.
The club is also one of a number in Antrim whose coaches are to get mental health training in the coming days with the Mindskills group run by campaigner Philip McTaggart.
Debbie Murray, Vice Chair at the club, says the move came after a young man with six family members in the Gaels took his own life. It later emerged that six people in the Colin area had died in the same week last month.
Debbie said: “We want to send out a clear message to all ages about the importance of looking after your mental health.
“We wanted to do all we could to highlight positive mental health. The club works with young people and we see the devastation suicide brings. The family of the young man who died suddenly were so proud the Colin Gaels were doing this.
“We all thought if it saves just one life then it’s worth it. Seeing Lifeline on the jerseys will mean the young people playing see it, but also the people of all ages standing around the pitch. It’s all about getting the message out there and that’s why we’re doing it.”
The club would normally receive money from a sponsor for jerseys, but instead received funding from Department of Communities through Cooperation Ireland. The club coaches young people mainly from the Lagmore, Twinbrook and Poleglass areas.
Philip McTaggart, who runs the Mindskills Training group, said he is to talk to coaches during two sessions at Casement Park.
He added: “The training I’ll be doing is about helping coaches work with young people to listen and ask the right questions and get people to talk. Talking reduces the stress and anxiety young people are suffering from. This training isn’t some off the shelf package, it’s been developed over years of experience and working with families affected.
“I’ve been doing a lot of training with the GAA and soccer clubs about positive mental health, suicide prevention, mindfulness and about looking after someone when they are unwell.”
If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, call the regional freephone crisis helpline Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. You will receive immediate support from a trained counsellor.
You can also call Samaritans free phone on 116 123 or text 07725 909090, or PIPS on free phone 0800 088 6042.
Keep up-to-date with all the very latest news, what's on, sport and everything else in Belfast and beyond with the Belfast Live app.
Only select news that interests you by picking the topics you want to display on the app's homepage. Plus, our enhanced user experience includes live blogs, video, interactive maps and slick picture galleries. Download it now and get involved.
Click here to get it from the App Store or here for Google Play .
