Prince William launches ‘On Your Side’ suicide-prevention toolkit for sport

Prince William led the launch of a new suicide-prevention toolkit for the sports sector at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10. The resource, called "On Your Side," was developed by The Royal Foundation in partnership with the British Standards Institution and the mental health charity Chasing the Stigma.

Prominent sporting figures attended and are backing the launch. Dame Kelly Holmes, Gabby Logan, Campbell Hatton, Jill Scott and Dame Laura Kenny were listed among those joining the Prince of Wales. A short film produced to mark the launch features athletes including Harry Kane, George Russell, Carl Frampton, Kofi Josephs, Rocky Clark, Ruqsana Begum and George Baker.

At its centre is a five-step framework called GOALS:

• Get ready
• Open the conversation
• Ask the question
• Listen and respond
• Support and signpost

The toolkit gives practical guidance on language to use, conversation starters, spotting signs of distress, and clear procedures to follow in a crisis or after a suicide. It is intended to help organisations create safe, supportive environments where people can speak up and support others.

Who it's for and how it will be used

The resource is designed for use across all sporting environments: local clubs, academies and elite organisations. It's relevant to players, coaches, staff, volunteers, families and spectators, regardless of an organisation's size or structure. The toolkit will be hosted on Chasing the Stigma's Hub of Hope, the UK's largest mental health directory, to ensure wide accessibility.

Organisations committing to implementation

Research commissioned by The Royal Foundation found that sport can be a powerful platform for suicide prevention but is hindered by stigma, especially among men and elite athletes. The research identified gaps in skills, knowledge and resources and noted that activity across the sector can be siloed, inconsistent, and unevenly resourced. At grassroots level, many clubs lack clear guidance on recognising risk and responding appropriately.

What organisations should expect next

Sports organisations who commit to the toolkit should expect practical guidance on policy changes, staff and volunteer education, crisis procedures, and signposting to support services. The resource is explicitly positioned to work across organisational levels so that community clubs and elite teams can adopt the same core practices.

On Your Side provides a concise, practical framework and a centralised resource to help sport reduce stigma, improve awareness of warning signs, and give teams step-by-step guidance for responding to people at risk of suicide. Its adoption by major national bodies aims to make those practices routine across the sector.