Beard and Thorpe families back new suicide-prevention toolkit for sport

Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe have called for stronger mental-health support in sport as a new nationwide suicide-prevention toolkit was launched by the Prince of Wales and the Royal Foundation. According to BBC Sport, the two women met for the first time at the launch and discussed their husbands' deaths with BBC business editor Simon Jack.

The online resources, called On Your Side, are intended to embed suicide prevention in sporting life at every level. The initiative seeks to give it a place alongside the routine preparation and performance work that clubs already undertake. Both women said they wanted their experiences to help prevent other families from suffering similar losses.

Matt Beard, the former Liverpool Women manager, died in hospital on 20 September 2025, a month after leaving Burnley Women. He had held the Burnley job for two months. BBC Sport reported that he is believed to have taken his own life, but the inquest has not concluded. After the hearing was postponed indefinitely, Burnley said an ongoing legal process prevented the club from commenting.

Graham Thorpe, the former England and Surrey cricketer, died by suicide in 2024. Amanda Thorpe described his deteriorating mental health and isolation after he lost his England batting-coach role in 2022. She has previously said she believes greater support from the England and Wales Cricket Board could have made a difference. Following his inquest, the ECB described his death as a tragedy that underlined the mental-health difficulties many people experience.

Debbie Beard told the BBC that her husband had faced social-media abuse when results were poor and had discussed mental-health struggles with his brother. She said sport needed to pay more attention to psychological wellbeing alongside physical fitness. She also emphasised the importance of turning the toolkit into practical support, with people able to reach someone they trust when they seek help.

The women said their focus was on change, while describing the continuing impact on their families. Debbie Beard spoke about the financial and day-to-day pressures accompanying bereavement, including supporting her children. Having met through the launch, she and Amanda Thorpe said they planned to stay in contact and continue drawing attention to the need for support.