Check In With Your Mate campaign reaches thousands of sports fans thanks to support from major clubs around West Yorkshire

Our Check In With Your Mate suicide prevention campaign was given a high-profile boost on and around World Suicide Prevention Day thanks to the support of major sports clubs in Bradford and Leeds.

The campaign – which aims to normalise conversations around mental health and suicide, particularly with men, where suicide risk is higher – was showcased to thousands of rugby, football and cricket fans in weeks around World Suicide Prevention Day (Sep 10^th).

Yorkshire County Cricket arranged for the campaign graphics to hit the big screens at Headingley Stadium (pictured, top right) in Leeds on September 20^th, for the international cricket game between England vs Ireland.

Around 9,000 fans had filled the stadium for the match, which was eventually abandoned due to rain, but not before the graphics had been beamed to all and the campaign’s messages relayed on the tannoy.

Players at the Bradford City game at Valley Parade against Grimbsy, on September 9^th, warmed up in their Check In With Your Mate-branded T shirts, which were also passed around supporters to share the message.

The club’s social media and online channels also carried campaign messages and graphics were shared across the scoreboard – to an estimated 17,000-strong crowd - and throughout the stadium in the game’s pitch announcer’s script. 

Bradford Bulls also backed the campaign on its social media channels and at its game against York Knights, at Odsal stadium, Andy’s Man Club – a charity which provides mental health and wellbeing support to men, was also on hand to provide advice and support those who needed it.

Keighley Cougars also dedicated their home fixture against Barrow Raiders to the campaign by distributing leaflets to fans on the day and the rugby league team’s players also warmed in in T shirts with the distinctive Check In With Your Mate logo on the back (pictured, below right).

The promotions were made possible thanks to funding from Bradford Council’s public health team to the clubs.

Leeds Rhinos Foundation also backed the campaign with a series of timed social media posts around World Suicide Prevention Day, through partnership work with Leeds City Council’s public health team.

The campaign sets out practical help people can give when checking-in by signposting to www.checkinwithyourmate.co.uk, which lists local support services across West Yorkshire.

Graphics and posters, to help spread the word, are also available to download and share at Check-in With Your Mate – Check-In (staffcheck-in.co.uk).