Hillsborough support group deals with people affected by Stade de France events

Timely interventions by the Hillsborough Survivors Support Alliance (HSA) have prevented a number of attempted suicides while also providing therapy for those severely affected by the events at that fateful FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's ground in 1989 which resulted in 97 deaths.

Monthly meetings, WhatsApp groups and even activism all help in the healing process but HSA chairman Peter Scarfe admits the fallout from last summer's Champions League final, where chaotic scenes saw thousands of Liverpool fans involved in dangerous congestion before being tear-gassed by police, has created a whole new wave of problems.

"We fundraise to pay for people to go for private, bespoke therapy, and the success rate is really high," he told the PA news agency.

"We are doing some good stuff. But then of course what happened at Stade de France we then had to set up a sub-group and have managed to send several people for therapy for that as well because it retriggered a hell of a lot of people.

"Stade de France was almost a carbon copy of what happened at Hillsborough and there are so many things you can relate from one to the other.

"It is known people took their own lives after being retriggered after what happened at Stade de France."

The HSA was set up in 2019 to provide mental health support for those who were struggling with the impact Hillsborough has had on them.

More than 150 people have accessed therapy through the group and it is estimated around 100 people are now no longer involved because they have found a way to move on with their lives.

"People are changing their lives and the stories we are getting are unbelievable and really heartwarming to hear people moving forward with their lives," added Scarfe.

However, at the other end of the scale are those who cannot find a way to get past the trauma and Saturday™s anniversary of the disaster is likely to produce another pressure point.

"You hear about people taking their own lives and attempts to take their own lives but they want peace. They have gone through so much, they are just looking for it to end," said Scarfe.

"People say, 'I'm OK, it doesn't bother me that much but...' and then they start telling you about nightmares, flashbacks, that they are no good for the whole of April until after the anniversary because of the anxiety and anger levels.

"We've had a couple who have attempted (suicide) and had more than a dozen who were at that stage of we were their last resort.

"There was a guy at Beachy Head on December 23.

"We had sent a message out on social media just to say, 'It's OK not to be OK and if you're struggling reach out' and at 11.25pm on December 23 he saw that message and messaged us.

"Three weeks ago we had someone message and he had already (harmed) himself. Of course then you are scrambling around thinking, 'Is there an ambulance on its way? Are we going to get him help?' and fortunately he is still with us.

"We set up a support group and therapy programme for him and he is still with us and he™s doing OK.

"We've had direct intervention. We are definitely saving lives."