# Prince William launches sport mental health toolkit

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/prince-william-launches-sport-mental-health-toolkit/
- Published: 2026-09-10T03:27:09+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-10T09:31:09+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp84m835vm2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Art, Culture, Health, Mental Health, Sport

## Key points

- Prince William launched a sport-wide suicide prevention toolkit, "On Your Side"
- Backed by 70+ bodies including FA, Premier League, Team GB
- Launched at Everton's ground, honouring Gary Speed's memory

## Summary

Prince William has launched a nationwide toolkit called On Your Side, urging sport at every level to embed suicide prevention into its everyday culture. The Royal Foundation-backed initiative, developed over two years with more than 70 organisations including the FA, Premier League and Team GB, provides online resources to help people in sport recognise when someone is struggling and guide them towards support, addressing what William described as fragmented and inconsistent provision, particularly at grassroots level.

The toolkit launched on World Suicide Prevention Day at Everton's Hill Dickinson Stadium, chosen for its memorial "talking bench" to former player Gary Speed, who died by suicide in 2011; Alan Shearer, a close friend of Speed's, gave his backing, alongside a promotional video featuring Harry Kane, George Russell and Rochelle Clark. ONS figures show 6,190 suicides were registered in England and Wales in 2024, with suicide remaining the leading cause of death for men under 50 and the rate notably higher among males (17.6 per 100,000) than females (5.7 per 100,000); the NHS, Samaritans and Mind were consulted, and the Royal Foundation says the project is intended to have a long-lasting legacy rather than be a one-off campaign.

## Coverage

- [BBC Sport: Prince William launches sport mental health toolkit](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cp84m835vm2o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss)
- [Daily Mail: 'You don't need to be an expert to support someone who's struggling': Prince William launches initiative about suicide prevention through the power of sport](https://www.dailymail.com/news/royals/article-16118991/You-dont-need-expert-support-whos-struggling-Prince-William-launches-initiative-suicide-prevention-power-sport.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.