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Prince William and Kate made a surprise visit to Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium as part of a new project using sport to tackle the stigma around mental health and suicide.
The royal couple joined sports stars and mental health organisations to launch the ‘On Your Side' campaign and encourage people to start difficult conversations.
Prince William and Kate help launch suicide prevention project
Prince William told players, sports figures and mental health charities gathered at Everton’s new stadium that “sport can help save lives” as he launched the On Your Side project.
The campaign aims to give people the confidence to speak to friends, family, teammates and colleagues who may be struggling, while showing that support is available.
It is backed by figures including Harry Kane, Alan Shearer and Dame Kelly Holmes, alongside the Football Association, Premier League and Team GB.
William said sport can reach people who may never approach a mental health service, urging sporting organisations to consider what more they can do. Kate attended to highlight the importance of people feeling able to speak openly about how they are feeling and having somebody willing to listen.
The royal couple also visited a bench at the stadium dedicated to the memory of former footballer Gary Speed, who died by suicide in 2011. They met Speed’s mother at the memorial, which was created as a space for people to talk about their anxieties.
The campaign also features Kane and boxer Carl Frampton, with the England captain delivering the message: “If you think someone's not okay, ask.”
FGG says: Hill Dickinson Stadium provides a powerful setting for this important message
This is a really positive use of Everton’s new stadium, giving the venue a purpose beyond football and helping shine a light on an issue that affects people across the sporting world.
The connection with Gary Speed’s memorial makes the visit particularly poignant, while having figures such as Kane, Shearer and Holmes openly discussing mental health can only help make those conversations feel more normal.
Sport has an enormous reach, and using that platform to encourage people to simply ask someone if they are okay is a worthwhile message.