Darlo’s players turn awareness inside out

Darlington FC players will support World Suicide Prevention Day by wearing specially designed t-shirts in their match warm-up tomorrow.

North East charity If U Care Share has supplied the t-shirts as part of its annual Inside Out campaign, which encourages people to start conversations.

Players from Steve Watson’s team will wear them before the clash against Hereford at Blackwell Meadows.

And before kick-off, supporters will be able to get their hands on the garments when they are handed out by the players.

This year, World Suicide Prevention Day is on Wednesday, September 10 and to mark the event, Chester-le-Street-based charity If U Care Share will hold its own Inside Out Day, encouraging people to wear their clothes ‘inside out’ and spark a conversation which could save lives.

If U Care Share will hand out t-shirts to Darlington and Hereford fans and will also host a stall in the ground to encourage supporters to get involved.

The campaign encourages people to wear their clothes inside out for the day – a symbol to get their feelings out in the open and start conversations.

Suicide remains one of the biggest killers of young men across the UK, with six people aged between 21 and 60 dying by suicide every week in the North East alone.

And on average, 135 people, including family, friends and work colleagues, are impacted when one person dies by suicide, according to figures from the World Health Organisation and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).

That adds up to 108 million people worldwide being profoundly affected by suicidal behaviour every year.

If U Care Share was established in 2005 by the family of Daniel O’Hare, from Lumley, near Chester-le-Street, who took his own life unexpectedly at the age of 19 a year earlier. 

Daniel had no previous history of mental health problems, nor had he shown any outward signs of his intention. 

He was a normal young man, who was extremely popular and well known in his local community, and with a family who loved him dearly. 

Daniel enjoyed football, spending time with friends and socialising. 

He also had a job managing a family online retail business and to this day his family remain devastated by their loss and are still no nearer to understanding Daniel’s choice.

Daniel’s younger brothers Matthew and Ben, along with cousin Sarah (then aged ten, five and 12) set up the foundation because they wanted to do something positive and prevent another family suffering a similar experience, as well as creating a lasting memory to Daniel.

The family started selling wristbands at football clubs featuring the message If U Care Share and raised over £50,000 for mental health charities.

In 2011, If U Care Share Foundation became a registered charity with three main aims: Prevention, intervention and support of those bereaved by suicide. 

Since then, the charity has provided support to those who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as help and advice to those who are at risk of taking their own life.

And their team of advisers have been delivering workshops on mental health education and suicide prevention in schools, Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League clubs and businesses and community organisations across the UK to promote positive mental health.

The workshops are catered for young players from the age of six, up to the older youth teams and first team. 

The majority of Gareth Southgate’s and Sarina Wiegman's England squads have taken part in an If U Care Share session – and taken one of the famous bright green stress balls home too!

Last year, the charity’s founder Matthew Smith completed a month-long 400-plus mile run to every Premier League ground – starting at Bournemouth and finishing at Newcastle’s St James’ Park – to raise funds and awareness. 

His efforts brought in more than £30,000 to boost the charity’s services which include prevention, intervention training and support for families affected by suicide.

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