Oxford United are taking the next step in their ongoing Can We Talk? campaign with the launch of suicide prevention workshops for Oxfordshire schools, along with piloting an innovative app designed to save lives.
Led by Men’s Team player Will Vaulks, who lost both his grandfathers to suicide, Oxford United will deliver a series of workshops to provide education, resources and training in suicide awareness and prevention, and mental wellbeing.
To coincide with World Mental Health Day, and a year on from the launch of Can We Talk?, the Club have also released a hard-hitting video highlighting the sobering reality of suicide.
In the time it takes for Oxford United to play a 90-minute football match, someone in this country dies by suicide. Over two years, that equates to the entire 11,500 capacity of the Kassam Stadium, a point dramatically made in this short film.
Over the next 12 months, the Club have set out a series of aims for the Can We Talk? campaign, which include:
- Delivery of suicide prevention workshops for schools, led by Will Vaulks
- Supporter workshops and dedicated mental health sections on the Club website
- Becoming the first EFL Club to trial a life-changing suicide prevention check-up app
- Improved internal mental health and suicide prevention awareness and communication
- Delivering a designated Can We Talk? matchday against Derby County on 18 October
- Continued collaboration with the EFL, PFA, and Baton of Hope to develop a suicide prevention action plan for football
Earlier this year, Oxford United became the first professional football club to sign the Baton of Hope workplace pledge, designed to provide in-person suicide prevention training to Club staff and players. Baton of Hope, a UK charity which aims to prevent suicide and save lives through proactive change, will also provide players and members of staff with access to a life-changing suicide prevention check-up app.
Oxford United will continue to work alongside Oxford United in the Community and the Joey Beauchamp Foundation to help improve awareness of mental health in Oxfordshire. The Foundation was set up following the death of Joey, the Club’s greatest ever player, to suicide in 2022 aged 50.
Will Vaulks, who has led the Can We Talk? campaign alongside Head of Media & PR, Ryan Maher, said: “Football has the power to save lives, and that’s exactly what we’re trying to do. I’ve lost those that I love, and increasingly, more people are being impacted by suicide. This is something we can’t ignore.
“We want to give people the tools, confidence and space to talk before it’s too late. I’ve seen the pain suicide leaves behind, and I don’t want that for anyone else.
“It’s important that while we continue to ask people to talk, we also take action. That’s why I’m committed to going into schools to speak with young adults to make them aware of the support available, and the devastating effects of suicide.
“11,500 people are lost to suicide in England every two years. That’s the entire capacity of the Kassam Stadium. It simply isn’t acceptable, and we need to act now!”
Ryan Maher added: “12 months ago we set out to end the stigma around mental health and suicide. Now, we want to go further to help bring suicide rates down in our community and beyond.
“We are committed to taking action, and making sure our Club is a safe, inclusive place to be. The development of the suicide prevention check-up app, powered by Baton of Hope and their partners Gravitas, will deliver a real time check on those using it. It's designed to understand when someone is heading towards crisis, with trained mental health professionals on the end of the phone if something is flagged.
“Working with Baton of Hope, Joey Beauchamp Foundation, and others, we will continually strive to do the right thing, and ultimately, save lives.”
We Can Talk. Help is out there.
Free mental health support is available nationwide through the Samaritans — call 116 123 anytime.
To learn more about Can We Talk? and the partnership with Baton of Hope, click here...
For more about the Joey Beauchamp Foundation, contact info@joeybeauchamp.org or visit joeybeauchamp.org.
