By Ben Kerrigan-
Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, have joined forces on World Suicide Prevention Day to deliver a powerful message about the importance of speaking up, listening and supporting people who may be struggling.
The Prince and Princess of Wales appeared together at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on Thursday as William launched On Your Side, a new suicide-prevention toolkit designed to help people across the sporting community recognise warning signs and support those experiencing mental-health difficulties.
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The appearance marked a significant moment in William’s long-running campaign to improve mental-health awareness, with the Prince placing particular emphasis on the unique role sport can play in bringing people together. In a foreword to the new toolkit, William wrote that sport can “provide vital connection and support at times when people need it most” — including when they are experiencing “pressure, loss or even despair”.
“Through my work on mental health, I have met people whose lives have been changed forever by suicide,” he said. “But I have also met people whose lives have been saved because someone stepped in to help.”
The Prince urged everyone involved in sport — from professional athletes and coaches to parents, officials, volunteers and supporters — to recognise that they could be the person who notices that somebody is struggling.
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“You could be the one who starts an honest conversation, and who helps that person to find the support they need,” William said.
He added: “I hope that On Your Side encourages everyone in sport, in every discipline and at every level, to make suicide prevention part of your game pl
Kate joined her husband at the Liverpool event, underlining the couple’s shared commitment to mental-health awareness. The Princess wore a bright blue trouser suit as she took part in the event alongside a host of sporting figures, including Olympic champions Dame Kelly Holmes, Sir Jason Kenny and Dame Laura Kenny, and former England footballe
The campaign has also received high-profile backing from England captain Harry Kane. In a film released to coincide with the launch, Kane delivers a simple message to people who may notice a friend, teammate or colleague struggling. “If you think someone is not OK, ask. One conversation can change everything,” Kane says in the film.
The film encourages people to be direct and compassionate when talking to someone they are worried about, including asking whether they are thinking about suicide.William delivers the closing message, telling viewers: “You don’t need to be an expert to support someone who’s struggling. You just need to find the courage to have the conversation.” Hazel Destiny, executive director of The Royal Foundation, said directly addressing suicide was an important part of breaking down the stigma surrounding the subject.
“Expert advice is clear that saying the word ‘suicide’ directly, calmly and safely matters,” she said, adding that it does not make someone more likely to take their own life but can help reduce stigma and give people permission to explain how they are feeling She described the initiative as more than a single awareness campaign, saying: “This is not a one-day campaign. It’s the start of a shared movement to make suicide prevention part of everyday practice across sport.”
The On Your Side toolkit has been developed by The Royal Foundation in partnership with mental-health charity Chasing the Stigma. It is intended to be used across sport at every level, from grassroots clubs to elite organisations, and by players, coaches, staff, volunteers, families and spectators
The Football Association, Premier League and British Cycling are among the organisations expected to incorporate the toolkit into their policies and practices.
The issue carries a deeply personal professional significance for the future king. During his time as an air ambulance pilot, he witnessed the devastating consequences of traumatic incidents, including a call involving a young man who had died by suicide. His subsequent mental-health work has increasingly focused on encouraging people to speak openly about emotional difficulties and seek help before reaching crisis point. The Prince has previously described suicide prevention as a major priority and has backed a series of initiatives designed to improve support, including funding for the National Suicide Prevention Network.
At Everton, William and Kate were joined by sporting figures to discuss how clubs and sporting communities can create environments where people feel able to speak honestly about their mental health.
The setting was particularly poignant. Former England captain Alan Shearer, whose friend and former Everton player Gary Speed died by suicide in 2011, said the launch at Everton was “particularly poignant”.
“We can’t always know when somebody is struggling, but we can all be better at asking, listening and helping someone find the right support,” Shearer said.
For William, the central message of the campaign is deliberately straightforward: people do not need to be mental-health experts to make a difference.
Sometimes, they simply need to notice, ask and listen.
And, as the Prince’s campaign puts it, “One conversation can change everything.”
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Image:Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
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