Prince William is set to convene a panel of prominent sports personalities on Thursday for the debut of a groundbreaking suicide prevention toolkit, the first of its kind, aimed at equipping sporting organisations with the ability to spot early warning signs and provide help to individuals at risk. The high‑profile gathering will be hosted at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on World Suicide Prevention Day, 10 September, underscoring the significance of mental‑health awareness within the athletic world.
Among the distinguished guests joining the Prince of Wales are Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes, broadcaster Gabby Logan, boxer Campbell Hatton, footballer Jill Scott and double Olympic gold‑medallist Dame Laura Kenny. Together they will launch 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 routine of sports clubs, academies and elite organisations alike.
It will be made publicly accessible through Chasing the Stigma’s Hub of Hope, the United Kingdom’s largest directory of mental‑health resources. To accompany the launch, The Royal Foundation has produced a short film that encourages viewers to feel confident initiating conversations about suicide. The video 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 victor Rocky Clark, multi‑disciplinary champion Ruqsana Begum and former jockey‑turned‑coach George Baker.
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 networks. The FA, for which Prince William serves as patron, will integrate the guidance throughout its entire structure, extending from elite teams to community and grassroots football programmes.
The Premier League and British Cycling have announced parallel commitments to prioritise suicide‑prevention measures, while Team GB will disseminate the resource to all athletes, coaches and support staff. In addition to these headline organisations, more than a dozen further sports entities have signed on as champions of the toolkit.
Their commitment involves embedding evidence‑based, practical suicide‑prevention techniques into everyday operations, ensuring that the approach is consistent, scalable and culturally sensitive. The resource provides concrete advice on cultivating safe, supportive environments where individuals feel empowered to speak up and assist peers in distress. It outlines appropriate language, conversation starters and the steps needed to make suicide prevention a routine part of organisational culture. The guidance also details how to educate members of a club or team to recognise warning signs, respond effectively during a crisis, and implement clear protocols for both immediate intervention and post‑incident support.
Central to the toolkit is a five‑step framework known as GOALS, which offers a straightforward method for starting conversations about suicide. The acronym stands for: 1.
**G** – Gather information and observe changes in behaviour; 2. **O** – Offer a listening ear and express concern; 3.
**A** – Ask directly about thoughts of self‑harm; 4. **L** – Listen without judgment and provide reassurance; 5. **S** – Support the person by connecting them with professional help. The framework is intended for use by anyone involved in sport—players, coaches, volunteers, administrators, families and even spectators—regardless of the size or level of the organisation.
Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation highlighted that the sports sector possesses a unique platform for suicide prevention, yet it is often hampered by stigma, particularly among men and elite athletes, as well as by gaps in knowledge, skills and resources. While the study identified pockets of effective practice and a strong willingness to act, it also revealed that the sector’s sheer scale and diversity lead to fragmented, inconsistent efforts and a lack of clear guidance at the grassroots level. During the launch event, representatives from across the sporting 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 illustrate real‑world applications of the toolkit and to foster collaboration among clubs, governing bodies and mental‑health experts.
The initiative 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 period. The network’s ambition is to create lasting change in how suicide is understood and prevented across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The Prince and Princess of Wales, together with The Royal Foundation, have long prioritised shifting the conversation around mental health and suicide prevention. Their goal is to dismantle stigma, ensure that individuals receive timely and appropriate support, and embed mental‑well‑being into the fabric of everyday life, especially within high‑pressure environments like sport.
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 reach out to their local health services for support.