Prince William has launched a new campaign aimed at leveraging the influence of sport to prevent suicides, with backing from prominent sports figures including Harry Kane, Kelly Holmes, and Alan Shearer.
The initiative, called On Your Side, seeks to empower individuals to initiate conversations with friends, family, teammates, or colleagues who may be struggling with their mental health.
"Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service," Prince William is expected to state at an event at Everton's football ground on Thursday. "People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence."
The campaign's goal is to utilize the widespread reach of sports organizations to raise awareness about suicide and to inform people about available crisis support. Key organizations providing support include the Football Association, the Premier League, and Team GB.
Suicide is a leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK, with the rate disproportionately higher among men than women. Annually, approximately 7,000 lives are lost to suicide in the UK.
"My hope is that every sporting organisation in the country will look at what is being launched today and ask a question: 'What more can we do?' Because the opportunity before us is enormous," Prince William is anticipated to say.
A film featuring England captain Harry Kane and boxer Carl Frampton has been produced as part of the campaign. It addresses the importance of intervening and offering help to individuals who may be experiencing mental health difficulties. Prince William also narrates the video, which aims to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide.
The project includes a practical toolkit accessible via a free website. It is designed for individuals who are hesitant or uncertain about how to approach someone they are concerned about. The toolkit introduces a sports-themed approach called GOALS, which stands for: G – Get ready; O – Open the conversation; A – Ask the question; L – Listen and respond; and S – Support and signpost.
Former England football star and pundit Alan Shearer described the initiative as "the first suicide prevention toolkit designed for the whole of UK sport." He added, "You don't have to be an expert. You don't have to have all the answers. But we can all be better at asking, listening, and helping someone find the right support."
Shearer noted the significance of the launch taking place at Everton, the club where his friend Gary Speed, who died by suicide in 2011, had played.