Pep Guardiola, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Sir Alex Ferguson are among those backing ‘Shining A Light On Suicide’ campaign to raise awareness of suicide prevention and how 'talking could save a life.'
Some of the biggest names in football have pledged to support the 'Shining a Light on Suicide' campaign in Greater Manchester.
Suicide is now the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK and 1 in 5 of us will experience suicidal thoughts.
The campaign is helping to prompt a nationwide discussion about suicide and to help people to increase their understanding, empathy and emotional intelligence.
The League Managers Association is backing the initiative that offers 20-minute training sessions for anyone to support them with better knowledge and equip them with the best words to use when offering support.
If you are experiencing emotional distress, you can contact Samaritans on: 116 123 or you can email us at: [email protected]
One in five of us will experience suicidal thoughts so it is absolutely a space for football to get in and lead. It is amazing that in some ways that we don't address it more, we skirt around it and that must change. Everybody who is a manager, in whatever walk of life, really it is their responsibility to take the training because the way in which those managers have conversations with people in the workplace does effect what might happen afterwards.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.