Prince William is set to convene a distinguished panel of sports leaders on Thursday to unveil a groundbreaking suicide prevention toolkit, the first of its kind, aimed at helping sporting organisations identify warning signs and provide support to individuals at risk. The high‑profile launch will be hosted at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September. Among the notable guests joining the Prince of Wales are Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, broadcaster Gabby Logan, boxer Campbell Hatton, football legend Jill Scott and Olympic gold‑medallist Dame Laura Kenny.
Together they will introduce the initiative, titled “On Your Side,” which has been co‑created by The Royal Foundation, the British Standards Institution and the mental‑health charity Chasing the Stigma. The toolkit is designed to embed suicide‑prevention practices into the everyday fabric of sport, from grassroots clubs to elite training centres. It will be made publicly available through Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope, the United Kingdom’s largest online mental‑health directory, ensuring that coaches, athletes, volunteers and even supporters can easily access the resources. To accompany 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 winner Rocky Clark, multi‑disciplinary combat‑sport champion Ruqsana Begum, and former jockey turned coach George Baker. Their testimonies underscore the message that mental‑health struggles can affect anyone, regardless of fame or achievement. Key sporting bodies such as The Football Association (FA), the Premier League, British Cycling and Team GB have pledged to adopt the toolkit across their operations.
The FA, of which Prince William serves as patron, will integrate the guidance throughout its entire structure, extending to community and grassroots football networks. The Premier League and British Cycling will publicly commit to prioritising suicide prevention, while Team GB will roll out the resource to all its athletes and support staff. In total, more than a dozen additional sports organisations have signed on as champions, promising to embed evidence‑based prevention techniques within their own cultures.
The toolkit’s guidance covers a range of practical steps. It advises on creating safe, supportive environments where individuals feel comfortable speaking up, and provides language suggestions and conversation starters to facilitate those discussions.
It also outlines how to make suicide prevention a routine part of organisational practice, teaching staff to recognise early warning signs, respond effectively in a crisis, and establish clear protocols for both immediate intervention and post‑incident support. Central to the resource is a five‑step framework known as GOALS, which offers a structured approach for anyone looking to start a dialogue about suicide.
The acronym stands for: (G) Gather information, (O) Observe behaviour, (A) Ask directly, (L) Listen empathetically, and (S) Support with appropriate action. This framework is intended to be simple enough for use in any sporting setting, from local youth clubs to professional academies. Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation highlighted that the sports sector holds significant potential as a platform for suicide prevention, yet it is often hindered by stigma—particularly among men and high‑performing athletes—and by gaps in knowledge, skills and resources.
While many organisations demonstrate goodwill and pockets of effective practice, the sheer scale and diversity of sport mean that efforts can become fragmented and unevenly resourced. At the grassroots level, many clubs lack clear guidance on how to recognise risk and respond appropriately. During the launch event, representatives from across the sporting ecosystem will share insights and reflections from their own organisations in a session hosted by Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community.
This dialogue aims to foster cross‑sector learning and encourage collaboration in building a unified approach to mental‑health support. The initiative builds on the National Suicide Prevention Network, which was established in autumn 2025 with more than £1 million of funding from The Royal Foundation over an initial three‑year period.
The network’s goal is to create lasting change in how suicide is understood and prevented across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Prince William, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales and The Royal Foundation, has long prioritised shifting the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention. Their work seeks to dismantle stigma, ensure timely access to appropriate support, and embed compassionate practices within communities. If you or someone you know requires assistance, please visit the Hub of Hope.
For immediate help within the UK, dial 111. Those outside the United Kingdom should contact their local health services for support.