A televised match between Halifax Panthers and Widnes Vikings will encourage members of the rugby league community to remember those affected by suicide - as part of events to mark World Suicide Prevention Day 2022. 
The charity State of Mind – which receives funding from West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership’s Suicide Prevention Programme – has joined forces with Mersey Care NHS and the Zero Suicide Alliance to sponsor the match which will be shown live tonight (Monday September 5) on Premier Sports TV and repeated on Free Sports TV tomorrow.
The Vikings will display 120 rugby league shirts on seats at the DCBL Stadium, marking the number of people around the world that will take their own lives during the course of the 80-minute Betfred Championship fixture.
The initiative will publicise the free Zero Suicide Alliance training which teaches people how to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts.
State of Mind aims to use the power of sport – in particular, rugby league – to help promote mental fitness and well-being, break the stigma and signpost to support, to ultimately prevent suicide.
The charity receives funding from the Suicide Prevention Programme to deliver mental fitness sessions to any workplace or community group or organisation in West Yorkshire.
These training sessions are still available and anyone interested can contact State of Mind here or ourselves here.
To help save a life, take the free Zero Suicide Alliance training online here.