On Your Side Toolkit Brings Suicide Prevention Resources to UK Sport

The Prince of Wales and the Royal Foundation have launched On Your Side, a nationwide set of suicide-prevention resources designed for people involved in sport. BBC Sport reported that the online toolkit aims to make suicide prevention a routine part of sporting culture alongside training, preparation and performance.

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More than 70 organisations are backing the initiative, including the Football Association, the Premier League, Team GB and British Cycling, as well as leading mental health charities. The National Health Service, Samaritans and Mind were consulted while the materials were being developed. The Royal Foundation said the project took two years to complete.

Prince William said existing mental health services are doing valuable work but that initiatives can be fragmented and support inconsistent, particularly at grassroots level. He said the toolkit is intended to give people who notice that someone is struggling clear, practical guidance to help that person reach appropriate support. The launch coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10.

The project is being officially introduced at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium. BBC Sport said the venue was chosen because its construction included a talking bench created in memory of former Everton player Gary Speed, the former Wales captain and manager who died by suicide in November 2011. Speed also played for Leeds, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.

A promotional video features England men’s football captain Harry Kane, Formula One driver George Russell and Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Rochelle “Rocky” Clark. Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s record goalscorer and a close friend of Speed, has also backed the initiative. Shearer urged people in sport to become better at asking, listening and helping others find support, while stressing that they do not need to be experts.

The launch comes against figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that 6,190 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2024. BBC Sport reported that suicide remains the leading cause of death for men under 50, with the rate among males at 17.6 per 100,000 people compared with 5.7 among females. The Royal Foundation said On Your Side is intended as a lasting initiative rather than a campaign limited to a single awareness day.