Ernie Benbow (Programme Manager of State of Mind) and Greg Burgess (North Lanarkshire’s Choose Life Co-ordinator) were invited by Madeline Moon MP for Bridgend, to make presentations to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Suicide and Self Harm Prevention at the House of Commons on Tuesday 13 March 2012.The group’s purpose is to raise awareness within parliament and encourage discussion and debate of all issues involved in suicide and self harm prevention. Ernie was invited because of his innovative work in raising awareness of mental health issues within the rugby league and wider community whilst Greg was invited because of his innovative and successful work in highlighting suicide prevention awareness through sport, particularly the annual 5-a-sides football event for suicide prevention week and the work with Motherwell Football Club.
It was an exciting and daunting experience for both Ernie and Greg; going through security and passing the armed police who stood at every corner. Walking through the two thousand year old Westminster Hall where Queen Victoria and Winston Churchill lay in state was inspiring. Ernie and Greg made their presentations at 1pm in room 13, where the parliamentary group and another fifteen people who had come to hear them.
Ernie began the session with a presentation on his work in Rugby League with a group called State of Mind. This is focused on raising awareness of mental health issues amongst elite super league players and fans.
What was fascinating about Greg’s work was how similar this work is to that of State of Mind. Although State of Mind’s work has a greater involvement of the players and a focus on their well being, the work is uncannily similar.
This presentation with Greg Burgess is now leading on to further joint working, using sport to raise the profile of suicide prevention throughout the UK.