Over The Line

Supporting Chelsea fans with their mental health. @ChelseaSTrust OTL is not a crisis service. Call 111 or 999 if you are at risk. @samaritans @GiveUsAShout

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

NEW OTL FILMS

We are pleased to release our two new films telling the stories of Chelsea fans and their mental health. Content warning; there are discussions of suicide

First is @thisiscivicx who charts her battles with bullying, grief and anxiety. https://t.co/cHIdukZoJC

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

Worth reading and absorbing.

[Stan Collymore @StanCollymore]

Suicide.

I'm choosing to be deliberately blunt and provocative in this post because it's necessary. Government, charities, football clubs are all pushing water up a hill in highlighting what is undoubtedly a major health crisis.

You take a rope.
You put it up in a garage or a tree nearby or far away.
You're thinking about every loved one you'll leave behind as you put that rope around your neck.
Then you drop.

Some are decapitated.
Some aren't.
All are found by someone who has a lifetime of trauma that will never leave them.
A son.
A daughter.
A brother.
A sister.
A mother.
A father.

I know 2 men who hung themselves.

One was found by his Mom.
One was found by his brother.
Neither have recovered fully. 20 and 30 years on.

A life sentence for people who were already worrying, terrified their loved one may do something.

So just visualise the above and ask, "is there another way"?

A segway for a moment.

I do a few Q&A's every year. Tales of yesterday with a 99% male audience of my age group.

After the stories and fun, my last question back to the audience is..

"Hands up if you struggle with a mental health issue".

Nobody ever puts a hand up. Despite 1 in every 3 of 500 attendees statistically struggling.

"Ah, nobody, that's fucking brilliant! Well I do! ". I then graphically tell people, stunned into silence about how a rope around my neck in the middle of nowhere jolted me to go home and cry like a baby to my Mom.

After the Q&A has finished, something always happens. I'll be chatting to a few guys, saying bye and one by one, men will come over and whisper " I struggle".

Or my mailbox the next day will have 30 emails from guys, their partners or kids saying " Dad/Uncle /Brother was there last night and what you said hit them hard".

And that's how some people realise that it's time to speak to a pal or family member or even rant to me in an email. It works, I often get a follow up email a year or 6 later saying that they took responsibility for their suicidal feelings and are now flying.

Humans are programmed to want to live, to have families and to keep the species growing and thriving. So for a human to want to short circuit that desire isn't normal, and it should never be spoken of as normal. It's the ultimate red flag.

If you suspect your mate, Dad, Brother, Uncle is struggling mentally, they deserve your intervention.

They deserve a " are you OK, please tell me what's up".

They deserve an opportunity to get past wanting to hang a rope over a tree or in a garage and slowly struggle until they die and you find them.

If you've been there and trust me I have plenty, then you'll know that text out of the blue, or a footie mate or one of your kids asking jow you are can open the curtains to some sunshine.

Because when suicide is your only answer, the room is already dark, and you can't see a way out.

So please, fucking pretty please, ask that husband, Dad, Uncle, Cousin, footie pal TODAY how they are.

You may be shocked what comes back but extremely glad that you asked.

For those who struggle, you're not alone.

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

@pnefc @JonnyGabriel Thank you for highlighting this issue. @ChelseaSTrust with the support of @CFCFoundation have created a service for fans, including match-day hubs. While it has Chelsea's name, any fan can visit the site to find resources. https://t.co/STGNwC01P8

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

🙏🏻

[Jonny Sharples @JonnyGabriel]

My brother loved Preston North End. Deepdale is where he made many happy memories: with me, with his friends, with strangers. Cheering goals. Celebrating victories.

Then, ten years ago today, he died by suicide.

This is his story.

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

There are many services you can turn to when you need them. Pick up the phone. 💪🏽

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

@StuartLTPC @MIBIAL @StamfordChidge 👍🏼 Someone will be in touch soon.

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

Becky has one of the funniest feeds on X but appearances can be deceptive. Very brave and important that she has spoken out like this. She is absolutely right about talking to people. All the very best to her from us at OTL.

[Becky Holmes hates spinach @deathtospinach]

Rather personal post this morning

As of a couple of weeks ago I am back under the mental health crisis team

I say this because I want to remind people that someone’s life is not always as it seems on social media

Even those who appear to be doing well and having a wonderful time can still be struggling behind the facade of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc

This is also a message to say always reach out for help and never give up

❤️

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

A very sad and tragic story. Our condolences to all of Jack's family and friends. It is important to try and reach out in troubled times. https://t.co/JgiwZbBVox

[Non League Bible @NL_Bible]

Non-League footballer Jack Badger has sadly taken his own life aged just 24 💔

if you are struggling, please talk to someone cause you're not alone and our DMs are open if you want to talk

(From and edited by @Abutdfc )

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

A thread that may resonate.

[Michael Merrick @michael_merrick]

Ok Twitter - I’m going to write something here now that I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing up until recently and which I might end up regretting. It’s personal and going to make me feel vulnerable and might invite ridicule - please be charitable.

[Disco Debs®⭐️🌍⭐️ @cfcunofficial]

Well done for all the hard work getting this important initiative off the ground @GetOvertheline @ChelseaSTrust @MIBIAL @StamfordChidge @NoisyMV

[Michael Volpe OBE @NoisyMV]

Really pleased to see @ChelseaSTrust and our @GetOvertheline project working with @samaritans @ChelseaFC @CFCFoundation
starting to teach people the listening skills to help and support those struggling with their mental health.

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

@FredCFC @BlueBlood2510 Keep talking. You probably know about https://t.co/y7b3zyJH3F

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

@FredCFC @BlueBlood2510 That’s a good approach Fred. Day by day. Do try to access the services in Sweden if you can. And talk to people..friends, family, your doctor. 💪

[Stamford Chidge ⭐️⭐️ 🇺🇦 @StamfordChidge]

Me and @gillybee66 doing the shift for @GetOvertheline @ChelseaSTrust & @CFCFoundation today. If you need a chat about your mental health come and find us - we’ll be at the Copthorne foyer, corner of MH & West Stands and walking about 👍😎💙

[Mark Worrall @gate17marco]

@GetOvertheline @ChelseaFC @ChelseaSTrust @CFCFoundation @ThreeUK @samaritans @StamfordChidge @NoisyMV @Dannythefink @chelseayouth @omid9 Fantastic and important initiative. Glad I've been able to help publicise Over The Line. Maximum respect for the work you are doing to destigmatize the mental health issues that may affect us all at some point in our lives. 💙

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

Rebecca's story
https://t.co/DSgL5ONduY

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

A 🧵 of our short films sharing the experiences of Chelsea fans and their mental health.

Please share
@ChelseaFC @ChelseaSTrust @CFCFoundation @ThreeUK @samaritans @StamfordChidge @NoisyMV @Dannythefink @gate17marco @chelseayouth @omid9

Mark's Story
https://t.co/fhfoJGhBTq

[Over The Line @GetOvertheline]

Luke's story
https://t.co/BxNMrjwiTn

[Chelsea Foundation @CFCFoundation]

Over The Line is back at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. 🙌

The supporter-led initiative, offering free mental health support, will be located outside the Matthew Harding Stand from 11:30am. 💙