#AlrightPal?: Barnsley fans urged to help reduce suicide rates in the town

It's to promote World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday

Author: Ben BasonPublished 8th Sep 2018

A campaign's trying to get more football fans in Barnsley talking about their mental health - to bring down the suicide rate in the town.

The council's promoting the hashtag #AlrightPal? in partnership with Barnsley Football Club, for World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday.

There's 24 logos spray-painted across Oakwell, one for every person who's taken their own life in Barnsley in the last 12 months.

On average that works out at almost one suicide every two weeks.

Kieffer Moore, striker for the Reds, said:

"It's showing we care because we all have mental health and we all need to deal with our own personal battles. It'd make things a lot easier if we had someone to talk to and help guide us through our lives.

"It's a massive thing people wanna knock out and Barnsley getting hold of it and showing it to their fans and supporters is massive so we're all getting on board with it and hopefully we can help a lot of people."

Lyndsay Pitchley, Fundraiser at mental health charity Rotherham and Barnsley Mind, added:

"If somebody has a headache they say 'Oh I've got a headache' but if someone's got mental health they don't say anything and it's the not saying anything that's causing the suicides.

"I think getting the club behind it is absolutely fantastic and hopefully it'll reduce the numbers - especially in men - and they'll come and talk about it. It's gone down recently in Barnsley but nationally it's increasing."

To access support from Mind contact the Rotherham office on 01709 919929 or Barnsley on 01226 211188.