'Sport is about having each other's backs'

Dozens of sports clubs, coaches and players have joined up for a campaign aimed at tackling mental health difficulties.

Cumbria United Against Suicide is a county-wide project looking to highlight teamwork and a sense of togetherness to encourage people to talk about problems and reduce the stigma around the subject.

The area has one of the highest suicide rates in England.

Cumbrian-based suicide prevention and bereavement charity Every Life Matters, which developed the initiative, said sport was about "having each other's backs" and clubs were "uniquely placed as strong, supportive communities" that could play a "vital role in saving lives".

A suicide prevention video featuring coaches and players from a range of the county's clubs will be shown at the Cumbria Sports Awards on Thursday, followed by a launch on social media the following day.

It will also be shown in the fan zone at football club Carlisle United's last home match of the season on Saturday 25 April.

"Sport has always been about more than winning. It's about connection, belonging and having each other's backs, on and off the pitch," said Every Life Matters' Nina Porter.

"The video highlights the importance of asking someone directly about thoughts of suicide, and having that delivered by real Cumbrian coaches and athletes, who are role models in their communities, makes it an especially powerful way to reach people.

"And at the heart of that is a simple truth - suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility.

"Through Cumbria United, we're giving clubs the tools and confidence to have conversations that could save lives."

Rugby league club Workington Town is also among the organisations taking part.

It said it was keen to use its "platform" to help people in the local community.

The project was kick-started by Emma Thompson, a senior manager in community safety at Cumberland Council, who contacted Every Life Matters with the idea of collaborating on a sport-based initiative.

"Every death to suicide in Cumbria rocks me to my core and I just couldn't sit back and wait for it to get better, I had to try," she said.

"I see so much beauty and human power in the partnerships I am part of. I believe this power alongside activity and sport as a shared interest really is the recipe for something magical."

The scheme is also being backed by Active Cumbria, which promotes sport and exercise programmes for people in the county, and leadership training group The Decommissioning Alliance.

Clubs are being supported with resources and opportunities for free online training to help build confidence in having conversations about suicide and can join through the Every Life Matters website.

A sign-up event will also take place at Workington Town's Fibrus Community Stadium on 15 May.

If you've been affected by the issues in this story, help and support is available via the BBC Action Line.

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