Football club first in England to be 'suicide-safer'

Hannah Naylor from Tranmere Rovers with Jessica Gallier Booth from The Martin Gallier Project

A Merseyside football club has announced plans to become the first in England to be "suicide-safer".

Tranmere Rovers, based in Birkenhead, Wirral, has partnered up with Wirral-based suicide intervention charity, The Martin Gallier Project.

Launching the partnership on World Suicide Prevention Day, the club said it aimed to foster a supportive environment for players and staff and for supporters and the local community.

Jessica Gallier Booth, CEO of The Martin Gallier Project, said it was a "monumental moment and one I am extremely proud of".

'Immense pride'

The charity, which has bases in New Ferry, Wirral, and Chester, Cheshire, was founded by Ms Gallier-Booth after she lost her father Martin Gallier to suicide in 2017.

She said it was dedicated to preventing suicide, breaking down stigma and supporting families affected by suicide.

"My dad was a massive fan of football so he will be looking down with immense pride that we are working with Tranmere and continuing to create a suicide safer community," she said.

Ms Gallier-Booth said the club was sending a powerful message by completing this training and would hopefully become the first of many clubs to use their platform to promote the correct messages.

'Help is available'

Tranmere Rovers vice chair, Nicola Palios, said football could often be a place of release for people who were struggling in other aspects of their lives.

"Tranmere Rovers and The Martin Gallier Project share a simple but powerful message: Help is available, and there is always hope," she explained.

"By building a team trained in suicide prevention, we hope to not only save lives but also encourage others to open up about their mental health challenges."

Tranmere Rovers staff will undergo SafeTalk training, which teaches people how to recognise the signs of suicidal thoughts and to direct people to appropriate support services.

The club hopes that by raising awareness and providing practical skills, SafeTalk will enable their staff to act as a first point of contact for anyone who might be struggling.

Members of the team will also be given Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training, which includes intervention skills and providing immediate assistance to those at risk of suicide.