Latest news with #MikeMcCarthy
BBC News
8 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Weston Park baton walk symbol of hope for suicide survivors
A charity started by a father who lost his son to suicide has held a Walk of Hope to encourage open conversations around mental McCarthy, a former BBC and Sky News reporter, lost his son Ross to suicide aged Ross left a farewell note asking his family to campaign for better mental health support, Mr McCarthy co-founded the charity Baton of said Saturday's event at Sheffield's Weston Park was about "smashing stigma surrounding suicide and encourage open conversation". He said: "Having witnessed first hand the trauma of losing a wonderful son with so much to give, I realised belatedly just how woeful society is when it comes to mental wellbeing."Together there is so much we can do and that includes bringing to an end the dreadful silence surrounding the subject."The event saw campaigners carry a Baton of Hope, a gold baton designed and crafted by Thomas Lyte, goldsmiths and silversmiths to Queen Elizabeth bearers included people who had lost loved ones to suicide or survived a suicide attempt. Debbi Marlow, who was among those who carried the baton, lost her brother Andrew to suicide three years said: "We've come together in the name of our loved ones and to consider people who struggle with their mental health."Suicide is everyone's business. In some way so many of us will be affected by suicide, whether we lose someone who is very special to us or we're aware of that. We're all connected as humans by suicide in some way."We need to connect and talk about it and the baton allows those conversations."Leah Laycock, who also carried the baton, witnessed her father attempt suicide as a child and is a suicide survivor said: "Once upon a time, I wouldn't talk about it but after coming across the Baton of Hope charity, meeting other people and connecting with them has helped me so much."And it's brought my journey of recovery forward very quickly, which is amazing."Carrying the baton feels like a symbol of survival, strength, and hope – not just for me but for everyone who's ever felt like they couldn't go on." Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys Can't Waste 'Blow It Up' Plan Under New Coach
Cowboys Can't Waste 'Blow It Up' Plan Under New Coach originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Dallas Cowboys know that what transpired last year can't happen again, and certainly not after the positive offseason we've seen from the franchise. Advertisement With Brian Schottenheimer now in the big chair, he has overseen significant changes both on and off the field, thanks to a solid free agency and draft haul, coupled with several coaching changes. All of that was part of what dissected last offseason as a "Blow It Up'' plan. That was about a combination of inactivity and savings when it came to roster-building going into 2024 ... and major changes - including the dismissal of coach Mike McCarthy - at the end of the 7-10 campaign. But "Blow It Up'' is over. Now it is time to recover from the pain and to capitalize. And the post-McCarthy vibes are good at The Star. Advertisement Training camp is under a month away, and we'll get to see how long those good vibes last with the staff able to get a proper evaluation of every player on the roster. Such has been the level of positivity this offseason that some are hopeful Schotty can lead this franchise back to the playoffs —and possibly beyond. Will it happen? Who knows, but when you have true belief, anything is possible. However, for that to happen, the Cowboys have to show they are better than they were a year ago, and for Fox Sports' Ben Arthur, when naming one word to describe the offseason, "rebound." "With quarterback Dak Prescott back healthy, the Cowboys will look to return to the playoffs in 2025," Arthur writes. "They traded for receiver George Pickens and a pair of former first-round defenders (linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., cornerback Kaiir Elam) to give their team a boost under new coach Brian Schottenheimer." Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian SchottenheimerKirby Lee-Imagn Images There are many unknowns about the Cowboys under Schottenheimer, with numerous new faces, a different coaching approach, and adjustments to the system. Advertisement However, there is also a benefit to change. With a revamped run game and offensive line, and with Dak Prescott now having two genuine receiving weapons, fans are no longer looking at Dallas as dead in the water. Granted, we are in June, so we can't be steadfast in our convictions just yet. But things are nicely poised for the Cowboys to "rebound" under Schottenheimer. Related: Cowboys Become 'Complete Circus' In Worst-Case Scenario Related: Cowboys Trade Pitch For Najee Harris Draws Strong Insider Reaction This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 25, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Dallas Cowboys to return to Oxnard, California for training camp July 22
America's Team is headed back to Oxnard, California for training camp from July 22 through August 13. This year's camp will mark the 46th year the team has trained in Southern California and the 19th season they have spent camp at the Oxnard location. It's also the first training camp for Brian Schottenheimer as the team's head coach – prior to replacing Mike McCarthy, Schottenheimer was offensive coordinator for two seasons. Fans can attend all practice sessions that are open to the public for free. Entry is available on a first-come, first-served basis, the team said. Workouts take place at 11:30 a.m. PT July 22 and public entry opens two hours before practice. The rest of the practices begin at 11:45 a.m. PT. The practices include three preseason games, the first being against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 9. Training camp wraps up in Oxnard on August 13, then picks back up at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco before the team's first preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium on August 16. Selected practices at The Star will be open to the public and will be announced at a later date, according to the team. Here's the Dallas Cowboys' training camp schedule: Tuesday, July 22 Wednesday, July 23 Thursday, July 24 Saturday, July 26 Sunday, July 27 Monday, July 28 Wednesday, July 30 Thursday, July 31 Saturday, August 2 Monday, August 4 Tuesday, August 5 at 2 p.m. PT– open practice with Los Angeles Rams Thursday, August 7 Friday, August 8 Saturday, August 9 at 2 p.m. PT – preseason game No. 1 at Los Angeles Rams Tuesday, August 12 Wednesday, August 13 Saturday, August 16 at 6 p.m. CT – preseason game No. 2 vs. Baltimore Ravens Friday, August 22 at 6 p.m. CT – preseason game No. 3 vs. Atlanta Falcons
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Suicide prevention baton made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical change. The 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical health. They will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and Jersey. Mike McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the Samaritans. Mr McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed. "Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked." He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said. "If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement Manager. Her husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023. "It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection." Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person." The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230. Suicide prevention tour to return for second year Suicide baton relay participant wants to show hope Suicide baton relay to inspire 'open conversations'
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Blackpool: 'Carrying Baton of Hope made me feel less alone'
A woman who lost her husband to suicide has said carrying a symbolic baton representing mental wellbeing helped her to feel less isolated. Samantha Southern, from Blackpool, who took part in the Baton of Hope tour in 2023, said it was the first time in years she had not felt alone and the event had brought her "connection". Organised by the suicide prevention charity, bereaved families are preparing to carry the baton through 20 locations in the UK again in a bid to challenge stigma and campaign for practical 2025 tour begins in Blackpool in September. The baton is carried like an Olympic torch, passed from person to person, being held by 100 local people who each have a direct connection to suicide. Baton-bearers will walk through Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. They will pass local services that can offer support for mental and physical will then tour the country, including visiting Leeds, London, Bournemouth and McCarthy, co-founder of The Baton Of Hope, said: "The idea is that people who have been bereaved by suicide or survived a suicide attempt find some comfort by being involved." Suicide is the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK, according to the McCarthy said he believed a change in strategy was needed."Suicide is preventable, he said. "Whatever we have been doing over the last twenty years hasn't worked."He said he was motivated to start the charity after his son Ross took his own life. "He wrote a long goodbye letter and one of the things that he said in that letter was please fight for mental health, the support is just not there," he said."If he could look down and see what we are trying to do in his name, and the name of all of the people we have lost to suicide, I'm sure he would think 'I'm proud of what you are trying to do'." The campaign is being supported by the Blackpool-based Empowerment Charity, where Ms Southern is the Solace Suicide Prevention and Bereavement husband Glen died in 2020 and she walked with the baton during the Baton of Hope tour in 2023."It was the first time in two-to-three years that I hadn't felt as alone," she said. "Being with a community of people who just understood and got me. I think it brings connection."Blackpool Councillor Jo Farrell, said: "It is an honour for Blackpool to host the launch of the Baton of Hope 2025 tour. "This powerful movement shines a vital light on suicide awareness and reminds us that behind every statistic is a real person."The 2025 tour sets off from the Village Hotel in Blackpool on Monday 1 September at 08.00 BST. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story you can visit BBC Action Line. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
