Norwich City launch mental health campaign amid 'worrying' rates of suicide
Around 500 people lose their lives to suicide across the East every year
Norwich City have launched a new mental health campaign today, with club using its voice to highlight the 'worrying' rates of suicide across the East.
Each year, around 500 people across East Anglia take their own lives. That's enough people to fill a whole block of the Lower Barclay Stand at Carrow Road.
The most common demographic affected by suicide is men between the age of 45 and 49.
The club is working with Norfolk and Waveney Mind on the campaign, which comes at a time when the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising cost of living are having a big impact on mental health.
The club have released a video narrated by Stephen Fry talking about the campaign. Club staff and fans have also recorded videos talking about the impact of mental health on their lives.
Holly Leech, senior marketing manager at Norwich City, who helped create and lead on the campaign, said:
“This campaign represents something bigger than our kit launch and something bigger than the club."
“Although mental health is now a much more talked about topic, there are still so many who suffer in silence.
"The aim of this campaign was to guide people on where they can go in times of crisis and show our community how they can help people around them if they need support.
“This is a subject really close to my heart, and with the support of many people at the club, we were able to create something to show how we can help to step up the fight for mental health.”
Sonja Chilvers, chief operating officer at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said: “Each year the demand for our services increases as more and more people seek support for their mental health.
"As Norfolk and Waveney’s leading mental health charity, we support thousands of local people every year through our wide range of services and support programmes.
“Our aim is to ensure that no one has to face poor mental health alone and thanks to campaigns like this, we can reach more people, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and come forward and ask for help."
If you need immediate help you can call 999 or call 111 and select option 2. You can also call the Samaritans on 116 123. You can also text SHOUT to 85258.