The suicide of Gary Speed has shocked the whole country.

Here was a man who seemed to have everything going for him – a lovely family, wealth and a successful career.

He played for a number of clubs and the players and managers from those teams have had nothing but kind words to say about him.

Gary had a glittering CV as a footballer and of late as manager of Wales he was enjoying outstanding success.

Everyone remains baffled as to why he took his own life.

There doesn’t seem to be a reason but a lot of people seem to live in darker places than those closest to them ever know.

Today we hear that an East Lancashire based charity which aims to reduce suicide rates among men aged 15 to 35 warns that it may be forced to give up its work because of a lack of cash.

Four years ago CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) appointed a co-ordinator because the region has some of the country’s worst suicide rates.

But the group’s £30,000 a year funding from NHS East Lancashire is due to end in March and that could spell the end of their work.

CALM’s work is far too important to be allowed to stop and funding must be renewed.