Four tragic Hartlepool men who died young will be remembered during a mental health and suicide prevention night

The event for mental health awareness and suicide prevention is being hosted jointly by town charity Miles for Men and STAGS mental health support group.

It will be in memory of four young men from the town who suffered from mental illness or tragically took their own lives in the last year or so.

They include Matthew Levitt, who took his own life last April and Tony Ridden, who was in his mid 40s and died just over a year ago.

The night will also remember Andrew Moore, of Clavering, who was bipolar and battled mental health issues, who died last March, aged just 36. It will also remember another man, 28, from Hartlepool.

His partner Sam Nicholson said: “It’s sad the amount of young men who have died in the last year or so.

“Andrew would stigmatise his mental health by not wanting people to know.

“But it’s the same as any illness.

“I think making it more acceptable to speak about it can only be good.”

The fundraising night will take place at The Corporation Club in Whitby Street on Friday, April 17, and feature singers, including sisters Khalysis and Erin Frances, and will be compered by Les Watts.

Miles for Men founder Michael Day, who knew the men who died, said: “Mental health in men is massive at the moment and needs addressing properly.

“They were all working lads who just came up against difficult circumstances.

“People need to know there is places and groups where they can go and speak to someone if they are feeling this way.

“Men like to soldier on but inside at times we are not ok.”

The idea for the night came from Martin Connelly who recently started STAGS at Rift House Community Centre.

He said: “It's a tribute night of love music in aid of mental health services and suicide prevention.”

Doors open from 6.30pm and the show starts at 7pm.

Tickets are £10.

The Miles for Men charity started in April 2012 by Michael Day in memory of his late father, Michael Day Snr, who sadly lost his battle with throat cancer in 2007 when he was aged 67.