Mikeysline marks World Mental Health Day by putting hope on the loudspeaker

Inverness-based mental health and suicide prevention charity Mikeysline will put mental health firmly in the spotlight at Ross County’s home match against Forfar Athletic on Tuesday night, using the half-time tannoy and pitch-side LED banners to share messages of hope, connection and support with fans in Dingwall.

World Mental Health Day on October 10th is an important opportunity to open up honest conversations, challenge stigma and remind people that support is available before they reach crisis point. For Mikeysline, it is also a chance to listen. Throughout this week, the charity’s team has been out and about meeting people, connecting with communities and making sure they know where to turn when life feels difficult.

That community-first approach has always been at the heart of the charity. Mikeysline officially launched its text service in December 2015, creating a simple, confidential way for adults and young people to reach out in their time of need. What began with a single mobile phone passed between volunteers has since grown into a broad network of compassionate, non-judgemental peer support.

Today, they support people of all ages through SMS, WhatsApp, Messenger and webchat, alongside phone, online and face-to-face appointments through its Hives. The charity also works in schools, workplaces and community groups, while their mobile Hive on the Road services, supported by West Fraser and The Royal Foundation of the Prince & Princess of Wales, helps bring support and awareness into more rural and remote areas of the region.

At half-time on Tuesday night (13^th), the charity will take over the tannoy at the Global Energy Stadium with messages encouraging supporters to check in with one another, talk openly and remember that confidential, non-judgemental support is available. Similar messaging will be visible throughout the match on the pitch-side LED banners around the stadium.

Emily Stokes, Chief Executive of Mikeysline, said: “Football brings people together, and Tuesday night gives us a powerful opportunity to reach supporters with messages that could make a real difference. World Mental Health Day gives all of us a moment to pause, start conversations and make mental health visible, but that work matters every day of the year. We are hugely grateful to Ross County, and to our ambassador, their CEO Steven Ferguson, for helping us carry that message into the heart of the football community. From our grassroots beginnings over a decade ago, to the wide range of support we offer today, our purpose has remained the same: to be there without judgement whenever someone is ready to reach out and to remind everyone that it’s ok not to be ok”

The charity is urging everyone to mark World Mental Health Day this Saturday by checking in with those around them, make time for a conversation, and share details of support or reach out themselves if they need to talk.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• Mikeysline is a Highland-based mental health and suicide prevention charity established in 2015.
• Its SMS text service officially launched in December 2015 and now operates every evening of the year.
• The charity provides confidential, non-judgemental support to people of all ages (11+) and genders across the Highlands, Islands and Moray.
• Support includes text-based services, telephone and online appointments, face-to-face sessions through local Hives, mobile outreach, school support, workplace groups and training.
• Mikeysline is one of the founding partners of the National Suicide Prevention Network, bringing together mental health and suicide prevention charities from across the UK.
• Ross County will host Forfar Athletic at the Global Energy Stadium on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, with kick-off at 7.45pm.