A football tournament being staged in memory of a young Belfast man this weekend highlights both the seriousness of the suicide problem and the positive work being done in communities in the area of mental health.
Ciaran Crawford was just 20 when he died in hospital in September 2021, a week after he had decided to end his life.
An all-Ireland judo champion and talented student, he was hugely popular among family and friends and his death represents a devastating loss on every level.
A total of 237 deaths by suicide were registered across Northern Ireland during 2021, a shocking statistic.
A high proportion were young men, who for a variety of reasons are susceptible to struggles with mental health. Figures suggest men are three times more likely than women to die by suicide and it remains the leading cause of death in males under 50.
In a moving article for The Irish News this week, Ruairí McDonnell described his own difficulty coming to terms with his close friend’s death as well as the determination of those who knew and loved him to honour his memory.
Since his passing, they have held a football tournament each year on December 31 where teams compete for the Ciaran Crawford Cup. The date was chosen both to mark Ciaran’s birthday and because it is a time when family and friends can come together while at home for Christmas.
Thousands of pounds have been raised for mental health charities in Northern Ireland and around 160 players will take part again this weekend. More importantly, as Ruairí explains, the event allows young people “to talk about their own struggles, how they’re coping and feeling, providing a safe space to do so”.
It is difficult to think of a more appropriate way for Ciaran’s friends to remember and honour him and the initiative deserves enormous praise.
However, it is also vital that such positive community efforts are backed up by robust statutory services and support mechanisms.
A Department of Health strategy for preventing suicide was recently extended after budget pressures and the Covid pandemic prevented its full delivery, and this work should be a priority whether or not a power-sharing government is restored in the new year.
:: Support for anyone struggling with mental health is available by calling Lifeline on 0808 808 8000, Samaritans on 116 123 or via the website www.mindingyourhead.info.