Bishop Auckland Football Club has signed up to a County Durham initiative designed to make conversations about suicide and mental health more open, supportive and easier to start.
The club is among the first organisations to come forward as Durham County Council seeks Suicide Prevention Champions across the county. The initiative was highlighted around World Suicide Prevention Day and is built around this year’s theme, “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”.
The council says the campaign aims to encourage individuals, communities, organisations and governments to engage in honest discussions about suicide and suicidal behaviour. By starting those conversations, it hopes to reduce barriers, raise awareness and create a stronger culture of understanding and support.
What Suicide Prevention Champions do
Champions are not expected to be mental health specialists or to hold specific qualifications. Instead, they are people who care about their communities and can help others feel more comfortable asking for help.
The role is intended to show that anyone can make a difference by learning about suicide prevention, recognising possible warning signs and supporting people to talk openly. The council says suicide can affect anyone and is therefore seeking volunteers from all walks of life.
Volunteers will raise awareness, help people have supportive conversations, understand the signs of suicide, share information about available support and back local campaigns. They will receive training and ongoing support.
However, the role does not involve providing mental health crisis support. People who need specialist help should be directed to the appropriate services.
Who can apply and where to get help
Anyone aged 18 or over who lives or works in County Durham can become a Suicide Prevention Champion. More information about the initiative is available at durham.gov.uk/SuicidePreventionChampions.
Councillor Howard Brown, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for adult and health services, said: “No one should have to suffer in silence, and the best way to tackle suicide as a community is to have open and honest discussions and break down those barriers that make it a taboo topic.”
He added: “As a Suicide Prevention Champion, you would be making a difference. You don’t need to be a specialist; you just need to be someone with compassion and understanding.”
Anyone concerned that somebody may be experiencing suicidal thoughts can share the Samaritans helpline number, 116 123. In a mental health crisis, NHS 111 can be called and option 2 selected for urgent mental health support. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
People who are deaf or have hearing loss can use NHS 111 SignVideo or the 18001 111 Relay UK app. Durham County Council also provides information about mental health support for adults and children and families.