Debbie Beard and Amanda Thorpe have shared their experiences after both lost their husbands to suspected suicide. They met at an event promoting a nationwide toolkit designed to make suicide prevention a routine part of sporting culture, highlighting the need for better support for athletes, coaches and staff facing mental-health difficulties.

Graham Thorpe, the former England cricketer and coach, died in 2024 after depression and anxiety worsened following the loss of his job in 2022; Amanda believes more support from the ECB might have helped. Matt Beard, a former Liverpool Women manager, died in September 2025, a month after leaving Burnley Women, although an inquest into his death has not concluded. Both families’ experiences underline how job loss, shame, isolation and inadequate access to appropriate care can contribute to a rapid decline.