Anti-suicide campaign targets pubgoers in run-up to Christmas

A CHARITY is aiming to enlist city pubgoers in its ongoing battle to tackle the problem of suicide in the Highlands.

Just ahead of the busy festive season Mikeysline has produced 18,000 beer mats which will be placed in pubs around Inverness, encouraging drinkers to look out for friends who may be struggling.

It follows on from an initiative which has seen messages of hope directed at potentially suicidal individuals placed on the Kessock Bridge.

The mats carry the message “Is there a mate missing around this table? Have you checked they're OK? Really OK?", along with the Mikeysline helpline number.

Stephen Reid, manager of Mikeysline's Hive Project drop-in centre, said: “People tend to have a general idea if someone is struggling. They could be down at the pub saying 'I'm worried about John' and this idea is designed to be a prompt for them to then go and check if he is all right.

"There's often opportunities to check on people but sometimes these are missed and this is meant to prompt people to go and take that chance."

The festive season is known to be especially difficult for many people suffering from depression and mental ill-health for a variety of reasons, including financial worries and increased social pressure to appear happy.

The project has been met with an enthusiastic response from the pub scene in Inverness and further afield, with dozens of nightspots already signed up to receive the mats.

Mr Reid said: “Within the first day of us announcing the scheme on social media we had 25 pubs signed up.

"More and more are getting involved too. It's a snowball effect.

"At the moment we have specific pubs signed up, but it is going to be offered to all of them."

Don Lawson, owner of Johnny Foxes and The Den in Bank Street, is one of those delighted to support the campaign.

“Christmas and the festive period is a time of joy and goodwill, but for some people it’s the opposite of that," he said.

"That’s why it’s so important to get this message out there.

“We have supported Mikeysline since day one – we already have Mikeysline cards available in the toilets for people to pick up – and I think this new campaign is a great thing.

“This new initiative is not just for the individual – it’s for their friends and families as well. Hopefully it will give people that motivation to go and check on their friends.

“It has the potential to save lives, and if it saves one person then it has done its job.”

Stuart Maclean, manager of the Auctioneers and Platform 8 pubs in Church Street and Academy Street, said: “It’s a great idea, especially at this time of year.

“When this scheme came up we thought it was a great idea and really wanted to get involved.

“It’s really important.”

Pub managers and landlords wanting a supply of the beer mats should contact Mikeysline via their website at www.mikeysline.co.uk

The text-only helpline for Mikeysline number is 07779 303303.

Mikeysline was set up following the deaths of two Inverness friends in 2015 and has worked to raise public awareness of suicide as an issue in the Highlands.