The Prince of Wales has launched a new initiative, 'On Your Side', designed to leverage the influence of sport in preventing suicides. The project has garnered support from prominent sports personalities, including England football captain Harry Kane, former athlete Kelly Holmes, and ex-footballer Alan Shearer.
Prince William is expected to state at an event at Everton's football ground that "Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service." He will also say that the scheme aims to help "People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence."
The initiative seeks to empower individuals to initiate "difficult conversations" about mental health with friends, family, teammates, or colleagues. It aims to raise awareness about suicide and highlight available support during a crisis, with backing from organisations such as the Football Association, Premier League, and Team GB.
A film featuring Harry Kane and boxer Carl Frampton discusses the importance of offering help to those facing mental health problems. Prince William helps narrate the video, which addresses the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, noting that 7,000 lives are lost to suicide annually in the UK.
A free website offers a practical toolkit, including a sports-themed approach called GOALS (Get ready; Open the conversation; Ask the question; Listen and respond; Support and signpost), for those concerned about someone's wellbeing. Alan Shearer described it as "the first suicide prevention toolkit designed for the whole of UK sport."
The project was developed with mental health charities, including Chasing the Stigma, which operates the Hub of Hope app. Mark Bullingham, chief executive of the Football Association, expressed a desire for sports organisations to foster a culture where discussions about well-being are encouraged and people feel comfortable seeking and finding help.