During the warm-up before Saturday’s game against King’s Lynn, Darlington’s players wore the If U Care Share Inside Out t-shirt.

It is the fourth year the squad have worn the black t-shirt with the’Inside Out’ message in green and white lettering, in recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

Suicide is the number one killer of men aged between 27 and 60 in the North East.

And the cure is simple - talk.

That’s why If U Care Share’s Inside Out message is so simple.

Get what’s on the inside … out.

The original idea at the Chester-le-Street-based mental health charity If U Care Share was for people to wear an item of clothing inside out on World Suicide Prevention Day.

This would provoke the question, ‘why are you wearing your clothing inside out?’ and the answer is to start a conversation …

Since then the t-shirts have become an integral part of the annual campaign.

Largely thanks to the support of charity supporters Scott Barrow, Joanne Cameron and Cheryl Pattison at Darlington FC, this is the fourth season the players have worn them in a home match warm-up.

You may have even spotted the giant Inside Out t-shirt outside the Blackwell Meadows main entrance on Saturday.

Before, during and after the King’s Lynn game, If U Care Share volunteer Colin Young was handing out If U Care Share badges, leaflets and balloons to everyone who wanted one at Blackwell Meadows.

“And everyone did,” Colin said.

“Inside Out Day at Darlington is one of the highlights of my season and Saturday was the best yet.

“It was just a shame the charity’s good friend Scott Barrow wasn’t there. And everyone at If U Care Share wishes him well on the road to recovery.

“Everyone at the club made me so welcome and if you didn’t get a badge, I can only apologise!

“If one person takes something from coming along it’s worthwhile and it was encouraging that so many people - stewards, bar staff, fans, volunteers, coaches - took the opportunity to talk and discuss their own mental health, the impact suicide has had on them and the importance of getting what’s on the inside out.”

If U Care Share was established in 2006 by the family of Daniel O’Hare from Lumley, near Chester-le-Street who took his own life unexpectedly at the age of 19 a year earlier. 

His younger brothers Matthew and Ben, along with cousin Sarah set up the foundation with Daniel’s mother Shirley because they wanted to do something positive and prevent another family suffering a similar experience, as well as creating a lasting memory to Daniel. Last month Shirley was awarded an MBE for her services to suicide prevention and mental health support.

The family started selling wristbands at football clubs featuring the message if u care share and raised over £50,000 for mental health charities. In 2011, If U Care Share Foundation became a registered charity with three main aims: Prevention, intervention & support of those bereaved by suicide. 

Since then the charity has provided support to those who have lost loved ones to suicide, as well as help and advice to those who are at risk of taking their own life. 

And their team of advisers have been delivering workshops on mental health education and suicide prevention in schools, Premier League, English Football League and Women’s Super League clubs and businesses and community organisations across the UK to promote positive mental health. 

The North East still has the highest rate of suicide among men under the age of 50. Six men every week take their own lives. 

It is estimated that this has a direct impact on 182 people, including members of that person’s family, friends, work colleagues, responders and health professionals, etc. In total it means at least. People are affected by suicide in the region every week.