BREAKING NEWS: Princess Kate makes surprise appearance to support Prince William’s suicide initiative
The Prince of Wales is unveiling a new suicide prevention toolkit for sport in Liverpool today.
The Princess of Wales has joined her husband in Liverpool today as he unveils a powerful new initiative on suicide prevention for the sport sector. It marks a key moment for the Prince of Wales’s ongoing mental health crusade, something both he and Catherine have backed via their Royal Foundation for many years.
The princess, who wore an aqua trouser suit, hadn’t been due to attend the event at the Hill Dickinson stadium this afternoon, but wanted to attend to show her support for this incredibly important initiative being launched. It marks the Wales’s first joint royal event the couple have undertaken since their summer break and the return of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the UK.
Mental health has been very close to both William and Catherine’s hearts for many years, and the Princess wanted to join her husband to highlight the extraordinary difference that can be made when people feel able to talk openly about how they are feeling, and when they know that someone is there to listen.
Joined by sporting legends such as Dame Kelly Holmes, Jill Scott and Dame Laura Kenny, William is launching ‘On Your Side’, a first-of-its-kind toolkit to help organisations and individuals across sport build the knowledge, confidence and practical approaches needed to contribute meaningfully to suicide prevention
In a speech today, William 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.”
Suicide remains one of the most serious public health issues, with over 7,000 deaths a year across the UK. It is also the biggest cause of death of men under 50.
Co-produced in partnership with the UK’s national standards body, the British Standards Institution (BSI) and mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, the toolkit has been designed to give people engaged in sport the confidence to spot warning signs, start conversations and connect individuals with support before a crisis occurs.
At the centre of the resource is a simple five-step framework, GOALS, for individuals to start a conversation. This stands for: G – Get ready; O – Open the conversation; A – Ask the question; L – Listen and respond and S – Support and signpost.
To mark the launch, The Royal Foundation has produced a short film featuring England football captain Harry Kane aimed at encouraging people to have the confidence to start a conversation about suicide.
Princess Kate has made a surprise appearance in Liverpool today (Image: Getty)
The footballer and other sporting stars, including F1 driver George Russell, appear in a video promoting the online guidance for grassroots players, professionals, fans and organisations being launched by William at a Premier League club.
Sporting stars ask questions about a person’s wellbeing while in sporting environments, with Kane saying “are you alright?” then adding “you don’t have to figure this out on your own”.
William is not seen in the film but delivers the voiceover: “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.”
Former England striker Alan Shearer said it was poignant the launch was being staged at Everton, a club “that meant so much” to his close friend Gary Speed, the ex-manager of Wales and former Everton midfielder who was found hanged in his home in 2011.
Shearer said: “We can’t always know when somebody is struggling but we can all be better at asking, listening and helping someone find the right support.” He added: “You don’t have to have all the answers, but I hope everyone will support the toolkit.
On Your Side offers advice on spotting warning signs, starting a conversation with someone suspected of having mental health issues, asking direct questions such as “are you thinking about suicide?” and advising them where they can find further support..”
The Princess of Wales has joined her husband in Liverpool as he unveils a new suicide prevention kit (Image: Getty)
The new guidelines debunk the “myth” that talking about suicide promotes the idea, stating: “In fact, it opens up a conversation that can help someone feel heard, less alone and more willing to seek support.”
It has been produced by William’s Royal Foundation in partnership with the UK’s national standards body the British Standards Institution and national mental health charity Chasing the Stigma, which will provide the advice on its Hub of Hope, a mental health directory.
Jake Mills, founder and chief executive of Chasing the Stigma, said: “We know that sport brings people together, if we can reach people and give people a reason to talk about this topic, but then take something practical away, then that’s the legacy of what we’re trying to do here, is to take it into that everyday life.”
Hazel Detsiny, executive director at the Royal Foundation, said: “The scale of the challenge remains clear, suicide remains one of the most serious public health issues we face with over 7,000 deaths a year across the UK – it’s the biggest cause of death of men under 50.”
