North Lanarkshire, Suicide Prevention, Football Event

Suicide Prevention North Lanarkshire teamed up with Motherwell, Celtic and Airdrie FC to host a special football competition to raise awareness about the high death rates in Scotland.

Ravenscraig was the venue for the 7-a-side tournament on Wednesday 13 September featuring more than 80 players from across the central belt. The event highlighted help is available for those worried about suicide and mental health issues.

Suicide is responsible for more deaths in Scotland each year than traffic accidents, and in particular affects young men in the 30-50 year-old age group.

Former Celtic player and academy coach George McCluskey joined Motherwell coach Keith Lasley and Airdrie captain Marc Fitzpatrick at the tournament to support efforts to tackle suicide and let people know help is available.

Lynne MacDonald, Suicide Prevention Officer with North Lanarkshire Council said: "Our annual football tournament and suicide prevention week raises public awareness about the devastating impact of suicide and helps promote the services which are there to help those in need.

"However, suicide affects lives across Scotland every day of every week. We need to shatter the silence of suicide and all take an active role in supporting people concerned or worried about suicide."

Teams in the tournament, organised by North Lanarkshire Leisure, included the Airdrie Mental Health and Addictions team, Voluntary sector South Lanarkshire and the Scottish Veterans service.

Motherwell FC coach Keith Lasley said: "As a football club, we are proud to support North Lanarkshire Council in efforts to help raise awareness about suicide and highlight the services in the community which are there to help. Hopefully we can act as role models in getting the message out there for people to be aware of potential warning signs and how to be able to offer help and support."

ABC Note: Over 600 people commit suicide in Scotland every year and over 7,000 people are treated in hospital each year for incidents of non-fatal self-harm. Within the general population, 13% reported having suicidal thoughts, 4% had attempted suicide and 2% had committed an act of self-harm at some time in their lives (Office for National Statistics, 2002). It is estimated that approximately 1 in 17 (250,000) people are having thoughts of suicide at any one time in Scotland.

Important information: If you are feeling suicidal or suspect that someone you know is considering suicide, contact Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (24 hours) or Breathing Space on 0800 83 85 87.