Prince William is set to convene a distinguished panel of sports leaders this Thursday for the debut of a groundbreaking suicide prevention toolkit, the first of its kind, aimed at helping sports organisations identify warning signs and provide support to individuals at risk. The high‑profile event will be hosted at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, underscoring the urgent need for mental‑health action within the athletic world. Among the notable figures joining the Prince of Wales at the launch of the initiative, named "On Your Side," are Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, broadcaster Gabby Logan, professional boxer Campbell Hatton, England women’s football star Jill Scott, and double Olympic gold‑medallist Dame Laura Kenny.
Their presence signals a broad cross‑section of sport, from athletics and boxing to football and cycling, all rallying behind a common cause. The toolkit has been crafted through a partnership between The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the mental‑health charity Chasing the Stigma. Its purpose is to embed suicide‑prevention practices into the everyday routine of clubs, academies and elite sporting bodies.
Once released, the resource will be accessible via Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope – the United Kingdom’s largest online directory of mental‑health services. To amplify the launch, The Royal Foundation has produced a short film that encourages viewers to feel confident initiating conversations about suicide.
The film features a diverse roster of athletes, including England football captain Harry Kane, Formula 1 driver George Russell, two‑weight world champion boxer Carl Frampton, GB basketball player Kofi Josephs, Women’s Rugby World Cup champion Rocky Clark, multi‑disciplinary combat‑sport champion Ruqsana Begum, and former jockey‑turned‑coach George Baker. Their testimonies illustrate that mental‑health challenges cut across every sport and level of achievement. Major governing bodies such as The Football Association (FA), the Premier League, British Cycling and Team GB have pledged to adopt the toolkit throughout their organisations.
The FA, which lists Prince William as its patron, will integrate the guidance across its national structure as well as its community and grassroots football networks. The Premier League and British Cycling have announced parallel commitments to prioritise suicide prevention, while Team GB intends to make the resource available to all athletes, coaches and support staff. Beyond these headline organisations, more than a dozen additional sports entities have signed on as champions of the toolkit.
They will embed evidence‑based, practical suicide‑prevention strategies into their daily operations, ensuring that the message reaches athletes at every tier – from local clubs to world‑class institutions. The guidance within the toolkit offers concrete advice on creating safe, supportive environments where individuals feel empowered to speak up. It includes recommended language, conversation starters, and protocols for responding to someone in crisis.
The resource also outlines how to weave suicide‑prevention into routine practice, train staff to recognise warning signs, and establish clear procedures for both immediate crisis response and post‑incident support. Central to the toolkit is a five‑step framework called GOALS, designed to help anyone initiate a dialogue about suicidal thoughts.
GOALS stands for: 1. **Gather information** – understand the person’s situation and concerns.
2. **Observe** – watch for behavioural changes or warning signals. 3.
**Ask** – use direct, compassionate questions about thoughts of self‑harm. 4. **Listen** – provide a non‑judgmental ear and validate feelings. 5.
**Support** – connect the individual with professional help and follow‑up care. The framework is deliberately simple so it can be applied in any sporting context, whether in a community football pitch, a university training centre, or an Olympic training camp. It is intended for players, coaches, volunteers, administrators, families and even spectators who may notice a teammate or fellow fan struggling. Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation revealed that the sports sector holds significant potential as a platform for suicide prevention, yet stigma—particularly among men and elite athletes—remains a barrier.
Gaps in knowledge, skills and resources further limit effective action. The study also highlighted pockets of best practice and a strong willingness to improve, but noted that the sheer scale and diversity of sport often leads to fragmented, unevenly resourced initiatives. Many grassroots clubs, for example, lack clear guidelines on how to recognise risk and respond appropriately.
During the launch event, representatives from across the sports ecosystem will share insights and reflections from their own organisations in a session moderated by Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community. This dialogue aims to foster peer learning and encourage the replication of successful strategies. The initiative builds on the National Suicide Prevention Network, which was introduced in autumn 2025 with more than £1 million of funding from The Royal Foundation for an initial three‑year period. The network’s ambition is to create lasting change in how suicide is understood and prevented across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Prince William, the Princess of Wales, and The Royal Foundation have long prioritised shifting the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention. Their goal is to dismantle stigma, improve public awareness, and ensure that people can access the right support at the right time and place. If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can visit the Hub of Hope for resources and referrals, or call 111 for immediate assistance in the UK. For those outside the United Kingdom, please reach out to your local health services or crisis helpline for support.