Help for bereaved families of those who’ve taken their own lives

Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50. A staggering number of men – 84 – take their own lives in the UK every week. Eighty four. Most of those fit the same age demographic as match-going fans.

All too often we don’t spot the early warnings, the signs, the minor changes in someone, a friend or family member. Sometimes they’re not even there for us to see.

For those left behind, the grieving and loss can be bewildering. Paul’s Place offers a unique service on Merseyside with specialist counselling for those bereaved by suicide.

On Thursday, 29 March, Spirit of Shankly Committee Members Ste Monaghan and Joe Blott, together with Phil McKeown from Wilcox Tours visited Paul’s Place in Anfield. They met with Peter Hughes to remember his son, staunch LFC matchgoer Neil ‘Yozza’ Hughes, and to make a donation in support of the work being done there.

The organisation was set up by Agnes and Joe Williams, whose son Paul took his own life in August 2015, and Kathy Devlin, clinical manager at Beacon Counselling Trust, whose brother also called Paul, took his life by suicide in September 1992. The help and assistance provided at Paul’s Place is absolutely free and they rely on donations.

SOS and Wilcox Tours will continue to do all we can to raise awareness of male suicide. If you would like to help, you can donate at paulsplace@beaconcounsellingtrust.co.uk  or go to  justgiving.com/paulsplace