World Suicide Prevention Day: Luke Humphries throws darts with Samaritans in Brighton and opens up on his mental health journey
World number two darts player Luke Humphries spent time throwing darts with a Samaritans volunteer at Brighton and Hove Albion’s training ground, opening up about his mental health journey over the past few years and how it has shaped him.
In partnership with suicide prevention charity Samaritans, the PDC (Professional Darts Corporation) have launched a video to mark World Suicide Prevention Day (Thursday, September 10, 2026) that highlights the importance of men talking.
In the video, Humphries opens up on the challenges of being a top darts player, reflecting on how the media attention and pressure caused him to have significant mental health issues.
But since then, through talking to people and seeking help, his mental health is better than ever.
Humphries also speaks about how he thinks the landscape of men's mental health has improved in recent years and the changes he has noticed, with more people speaking up about their issues than before.
He said: “We all go through our struggles, but the best thing to do is to be open and honest about it, because when I did six years ago, I felt like it was a weight lifted off my shoulders.
“I had a few darts players come up to me when I first came out about my mental health struggles saying I’m not alone and that they’re struggling too. It made me feel better that I wasn’t alone and not the only darts player going through it.”
When asked, if they were struggling, would his friends come to him, Humphries added: “I’ve got a great relationship with my friends and I’m sure if they were struggling they would come to me because they know what I’ve gone through and the experiences I can relay to them and help them if they need it.
“For me, the best thing I ever did was go and see a doctor and go and tell him my feelings. Look who I am now, I’ve achieved so much from doing that and I’m so glad I did.”
In the video, Humphries can be seen playing a game of darts against Dean, a local volunteer from the Samaritans branch in Brighton.
Samaritans are the leading UK-based charity that provides emotional support to anyone struggling to cope, in distress, or at risk of suicide. It runs a confidential, 24/7 helpline (116 123 in the UK), along with email and in-person support at local branches.
In the video, both 116 and 123 are used as three-dart checkout targets, and together the two numbers form the Samaritans helpline (116 123), which is why they're known as 'the Samaritans numbers' in darts.
Samaritans shared the statistic that one in four people will experience suicidal thoughts at some point in their lifetime.
PDC Head of Media, Josh Phillips said: “We’re proud to support Samaritans this World Suicide Prevention Day and help highlight the importance of talking openly about mental health.
“Luke has spoken honestly about his own experiences and we hope that by using the platform darts provides to share his story, we can encourage others who may be struggling to talk to someone and seek support when they need it.”
CEO of Samaritans, Julie Bentley said: “Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 and whilst suicidal thoughts can be interrupted, we know men can still feel reluctant to speak out when they are struggling.
“When someone like Luke is so open and honest about the challenges he has faced with his own mental health, it can really inspire others to do the same and this is how lives can be saved.
“I want to say a huge thank you to Luke, the PDC and Brighton and Hove Albion for all their support in making this film and standing with us on our mission to prevent suicide.”