Prince William is set to convene a panel of prominent sports personalities this Thursday to unveil a groundbreaking suicide prevention toolkit, the first of its kind, aimed at equipping sporting organisations with the ability to identify warning signs and offer support to individuals at risk. The high‑profile gathering will be held at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, underscoring the significance of the initiative. Among the distinguished guests joining the Prince of Wales are Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, broadcaster Gabby Logan, boxer Campbell Hatton, football star Jill Scott and Olympic gold‑medallist Dame Laura Kenny. Together they will launch the resource, 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.
“On Your Side” is intended to embed suicide‑prevention practices into the everyday fabric of sport, from community clubs to elite training centres. The toolkit will be freely accessible through Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope – the United Kingdom’s largest online directory of mental‑health services and resources.
To accompany the launch, The Royal Foundation has produced a concise film that encourages people to feel confident initiating conversations about suicide. The short piece features a cross‑section 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 illustrate that mental‑health challenges can affect anyone, regardless of sport or stature. Major governing 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 national structure, community programmes and grassroots football network. The Premier League and British Cycling have announced parallel commitments to prioritise suicide‑prevention measures, while Team GB will make the resource available to all athletes, coaches and support staff. In total, more than a dozen additional sports organisations have signed up to become champions of the initiative, promising to weave evidence‑based suicide‑prevention techniques into their daily routines. The guidance offers practical advice on creating safe, supportive environments where individuals feel empowered to speak up and assist peers in distress.
It outlines recommended language, conversation starters and protocols for handling a crisis, as well as steps for post‑incident support. Central to the toolkit is a five‑step framework known as GOALS, designed to help anyone start a dialogue about suicidal thoughts.
Each letter stands for a specific action that guides the conversation toward empathy and assistance. The resource is deliberately versatile, suitable for use in local clubs, academies, professional teams and volunteer organisations, and it addresses the needs of players, coaches, administrators, families and even spectators. Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation revealed that sport possesses a unique capacity to act as a platform for suicide prevention, yet this potential is often undermined by stigma – particularly among men and elite athletes – and by gaps in knowledge, skills and available resources. While pockets of effective practice exist, the sector’s sheer scale and diversity mean that many initiatives operate in isolation, leading to uneven coverage and inconsistent support.
At the grassroots level, numerous clubs lack clear guidance on how to recognise risk factors and respond appropriately. During the launch event, representatives from across the sporting ecosystem will share insights and reflections from their own organisations in a discussion moderated by Sue Gregory, CEO of Everton in the Community.
This exchange aims to highlight best practices, identify common challenges and foster collaboration across disciplines. The new toolkit builds on the National Suicide Prevention Network, which was introduced in the autumn of 2025 with more than £1 million of funding from The Royal Foundation for an initial three‑year phase. The network’s broader ambition is to effect 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 goal is to dismantle stigma, promote early help‑seeking, and ensure that individuals receive the right support at the right time and place. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are encouraged to visit the Hub of Hope for resources and contact details. For immediate assistance within the UK, dial 111. Those outside the United Kingdom should reach out to their local health services for support.