Bingham Cup teams up with LGBT suicide prevention network - Australia Gay News Network

The Bingham Cup, the world cup of gay rugby union, will be held in Nashville this year, and organisers have teamed up with the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network to raise awareness about athletes coping with their sexuality. Keegan Hirst, a gay pro rugby player, talked about the value of having someone to lean on.

“I'd tell someone to just try and talk to someone about something. It's probably easier if it's a stranger. Just getting things off your chest is a massive help. I wish I'd have had someone to speak to about things. As soon as I started opening up to people about what I was thinking and feeling I instantly felt better. As much as it's a cliché that's used, it did feel like a weight off."

The organisers issued a statement on the collaboration with the suicide prevention network:

“The Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN) is the Charity of Choice of the 2016 Bingham Cup, the world championship of gay rugby. TSPN is a public-private partnership of counselors, mental health professionals and community advocates dedicated to the goal of reducing suicide rates in the state of Tennessee. TSPN works across the state to eliminate mental health stigma and educate communities about the warning signs of suicide with the goal of reducing suicide rates.

"For various reasons, LGBTQ people are more susceptible to suicide. They are subject to stressors such as bullying, discrimination, being closeted, and a lack of support from family and friends. Also, they often have less access to mental health resources," says Scott Ridgway, TSPN’s Executive Director. "As the Charity of Choice, TSPN will have the opportunity to offer suicide prevention training to players and guests ahead of the tournament, helping to spread the message of suicide prevention across the U.S. and around the world."