WILLIAM has been joined by wife Kate today at a Premier League football club to reveal a new initiative on World Suicide Prevention Day.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are back into the swing of things after the summer break – with oldest child Prince George, 13, having started at Eton College on Tuesday.
Footy-mad Wills is delivering a heart-felt speech at Everton FC’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, in Liverpool, as part of the launch of a suicide prevention guide for the sports sector.
The scheme – backed by the likes of England football captain Harry Kane, Lioness Jill Scott F1‘s George Russell, and Olympic stars Dame Kelly Holmes and Dame Laura Kenny – includes a toolkit called On Your Side.
William is set to say: “My hope it that ever sporting organisation in the country will look at what is being launched today and ask a question: ‘What more than 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.
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“People who may never seek support themselves and may be struggling in silence.
“The sporting community can help change that.”
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,www.headstogether.org.uk
- HUMEN www.wearehumen.org
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans,www.samaritans.org, 116 123
The dad-of-three, 44, was initially set to attend the event alone, but Kate made the last-minute decision to join him due to her personal support for the initiative.
She also wanted to highlight the importance of people being able to talk openly about their feelings and knowing someone is there to listen, the Sun understands.
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It comes after years of work by The Royal Foundation to tackle mental health issues which will continue for many years ahead.
The foundation has also produced a short film aimed at encouraging people to have the confidence to start a conversation about suicide.
It features footballer Kane, F1 driver Russell and women’s Rugby World Cup winner Rocky Clark.
In the video, The Prince says in a 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.”
Kane added: “If you think someone’s not okay, ask. One conversation can change everything.”
Prince George looked just like his dad William in his new uniform as he was dropped off at Eton earlier this week by his mum and dad.
Continuing the family tradition the 13-year-old future King is following in the footsteps of his dad and uncle Harry, becoming a boarder at the 586-year-old school.
The £65,000-a-year school has educated 20 British Prime Ministers.