The Mintridge Foundation Marks World Suicide Prevention Day with Partnership with We Mind & Kelly Matters To Support The Max Hunter Fund Programmes
The Mintridge Foundation Marks World Suicide Prevention Day with Partnership with We Mind & Kelly Matters To Support The Max Hunter Fund Programmes
World Suicide Prevention Day is an awareness day observed on 10 September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world since 2003.
According to the Samaritans, fortunately provisional suicide rates for 2020 in England have found no evidence that the national suicide rates increased due to Covid – 19 as many were concerned for. There is no room for complacency, particularly with the long term impact of the economy and that is why we are continuing to advocate change.
We Mind & Kelly Matters was formed in 2019 after the devastating loss of Kelly Francesca Hewitt to suicide. Kelly was always the life and soul of any party; she always wore a big smile and had a huge heart and she would do anything for anybody.
Kelly’s legacy will be her Charity and the mission of We Mind & Kelly Matters is to help as many people, and particularly children with their mental health.
The initial aims were to raise much needed funds for mental health and bereavement charities such as MIND and SOBS, so that anyone affected by suicide would receive help and support. Through the generosity of public donations, they raised in excess of £100,000, leading the charity developing a longer-term plan in Kelly’s memory and the launch of support services. The range of training services can take place via online delivery or in person and is flexible and adaptable to mee the needs of organisations, schools and businesses.
One element of the training is the Suicide Awareness For Everyone; (SAFE-Talk) introductory talk about suicide. The talk covers topics including Exploration of Suicide; Prevalence of Suicide; Appropriate Language; Building Awareness; Acceptance and Empathy plus more. The talk explores areas of risk that may help identify someone who may be thinking about suicide and covers resources and organisations in which a person in need can be signposted to. Breaking down the stigma around suicide is an important step towards prevention; and to empower more people to talk openly about their own suicidal feelings; we need to change the narrative and educate safely.
It is here that we feel that the partnership will have its greatest impact. We Mind & Kelly Matters will be delivering their services in the Max Hunter Fund Programmes across agricultural colleges in the UK alongside our sporting Ambassadors.
After many postponements due to the Covid – 19 Pandemic, the Max Hunter Fund Programme will finally be able to launch on 15th October at Shuttleworth College with Mintridge Foundation Ambassadors, British shotgun shooter, Georgina Roberts and ex professional cricketer, Patrick Foster. The two athletes will each be sharing their sporting journeys with students across a six-month period to keep our much loved friend Max’s fun, caring and sporting memory alive. They will be changing perceptions and challenging stereotypes in the process. Georgie and Patrick compete in two of Max’s favourite sports and they will be encouraging a new dialogue around how to look after our mental health just as we do our physical. Alongside them, Sherry Adams from We Mind & Kelly Matters will deliver a SAFE talk to the students as well as ongoing support for the college too.
We would like to thank everyone for your ongoing support of the Max Hunter Fund including the recent T20MAX Cricket at Kimbolton Cricket Club.
Our Mental Health Ambassador, Patrick Foster regularly shares ideas, hints and tips on supporting your own mental health as well as others,. For example, Joe Marler and his “Big Boys Don’t Cry” documentary.
Other resources included:
The Mintridge Foundation is a registered charity dedicated to enhancing life skills in young people through sport. We provide a support network for young people by harnessing the power of positive sporting role models. The Mintridge Foundation assists young people of all ages, abilities and physical capabilities to develop confidence and resilience, and creates awareness of the importance of mental and physical wellbeing through sport.
Our team of Ambassadors - Olympians, Paralympians and other professional sports stars from over 20 sports, both team and individual - work with young people in schools, clubs and academies across the UK. Starting with visits including assemblies, coaching clinics and classroom sessions tailored to each organisation’s requirements, our ambassadors can then provide one- on- one remote mentoring in a safeguarded environment, delivered via technology such as Fitswarm and Playwaze to build a lasting legacy for individuals.
The Mintridge Foundation’s successes demonstrate the incredible power of sport; from a mentee’s selection to represent Great Britain in their chosen field to enabling disabled children to find confidence and happiness just through participation. Understanding life after sport, we also support our Ambassadors in their transition from active sport to the next stage of their careers.
The Mintridge Foundation
Unit 4, Shieling Court
Northfolds Road
Corby
Northants
NN18 9QD
Tel: +44 (0) 1536 447106
www.mintridgefoundation.org.uk