Prince William and Kate launch sports initiative to prevent suicide on World Suicide Prevention Day The Prince and Princess of Wales unveiled the "On Your Side" program at Everton FC, urging sport clubs to support mental‑health awareness and early intervention. The initiative will be adopted by governing bodies such as the FA, Premier League and British Cycling. On World Suicide Prevention Day, Prince William and his wife Kate, Princess of Wales, introduced the "On Your Side" campaign at Everton FC's Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The event, attended by England captain Harry Kane, former striker Alan Shearer, Olympic gold medallists Kelly Holmes and the cycling duo Jason and Laura Kenny, sought to unite the sports sector around suicide prevention. The Prince said that sport can reach people who never enter a mental‑health facility and that the sector should become a place where it is safe to ask for help.He warned that preventing suicide is a collective responsibility and called for "a movement across sport" to create open environments, "where asking for help is seen as a sign of strength, and where support is never out of reach." The initiative, developed by the Royal Foundation, provides a toolkit that can be used by clubs at any level - from grassroots to elite. The Football Association, Premier League and British Cycling have pledged to integrate the toolkit into their policies and practices, according to the Palace. The toolkit will help sport‑involved people recognise warning signs and offer timely support.This launch marks William's highest profile appearance in Britain in several years, and follows his earlier 2025 visit to a mental‑health centre where he spoke with a woman whose husband had taken his own life. In that meeting, he cited the ongoing need for public conversation about mental illness. The program is the latest example of the royal couple's focus on mental‑health advocacy. They continue to partner with charities and public figures to raise awareness and to push policy changes.The Royal Foundation has previously helped fund research into depression, anxiety and suicide, and has launched other initiatives such as the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. The "On Your Side" campaign was unveiled in a small but powerful ceremony at Hier Dickinson Stadium, with a live audience of players, coaches, broadcasters and fans. William stressed that support must extend beyond the playing arena, encouraging clubs to embed mental‑wellness resources into their facilities and training.Experts say that youth sport programmes can be invaluable in early detection of mental distress."Children and teenagers are more likely to talk about a problem with a coach or teammate than a doctor," suggests a spokesperson for the British Psychological Society. "The goal is to give professionals on the sidelines the tools and confidence to act before a crisis occurs. "