Prince William is calling on sports stars to back his latest initiative, revealing how the project has already had a “profound impact” on him.
The Heir to the British Throne has called on the sports world to make suicide prevention part of its “game plan,” joining forces with stars including England captain Harry Kane and F1 driver George Russell to break the stigma and encourage open conversations.
Launching the new toolkit, On Your Side, today, World Suicide Prevention Day, with a landmark speech in which, the Prince of Wales is expected to say, "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. Sport has the ability to reach people who may never walk through the door of a mental healthcare service. People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence. The sporting community can help change that."
A short film marking the launch features Harry Kane, George Russell and other sports stars encouraging people to open up, with Kane asking directly, “Are you thinking about suicide?”
In a voiceover, William concludes: "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."
Prince William's new project aim
The initiative will equip organisations with practical approaches to suicide prevention, with the Football Association, Team GB and British Cycling among those supporting it.
The Royal Foundation developed the toolkit with the British Standards Institution and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma.
William launched the National Suicide Prevention Network last year with £1 million in funding, while On Your Side was inspired by sporting organisations seeking guidance on suicide prevention.
The aim of this initiative is to aid coaches, volunteers, families, spectators and anyone involved in a sporting environment.
