‘Together Against Suicide’ is backed by all 20 Premier League clubs and has been created with suicide prevention charity Samaritans, who provide people in the UK with free, 24/7 emotional support. Recent data shows that someone in the UK takes their own life every 90 minutes, and one in four people have had suicidal thoughts.
The league is funding 11 clubs to provide bespoke support for fans at home matchdays across the 2025-26 season. The pilot project begins on Saturday September 13 and will see clubs providing tailored environments to offer fans the opportunity to talk in safe, non-judgemental settings, as well as directing them to trusted support organisations.
LFC is one of the clubs taking part in a pilot project, which will be delivered by the LFC Foundation and will launch ahead of the Merseyside derby against Everton on Saturday September 20. The programme will provide support for fans experiencing suicidal thoughts, which will be accessible on Premier League home matchdays.
The league has also created an online hub which includes information on signs and symptoms for people to look for if they are concerned about how they or someone else is feeling. The hub offers support and referral information to both domestic and international services. Visit premierleague.com/togetheragainstsuicide for more information.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said: “Sadly, suicide is an issue that affects people of all ages from all backgrounds. We believe football can play a vital role in reducing the stigma around it and connecting fans who are experiencing suicidal thoughts with the support they need.
“By working with clubs and partners to develop ‘Together Against Suicide’, we want fans to understand that they do not have to deal with their problems alone.
“There are many ways for people to have the conversations that can have a positive impact on their mental wellbeing, whether this is by utilising the matchday services that are being launched by clubs this weekend, speaking to family and friends or by contacting Samaritans or other experts in this area for confidential advice.
“This is about using the power of football to help save lives and we urge fans to look after themselves and those they care about.”
As part of the initiative, Samaritans will provide training to club staff to ensure they feel equipped and supported to lead suicide prevention activity with fans. The league is also funding club subscriptions to R;pple, a digital tool that discreetly intercepts harmful online searches and signposts users to free, 24/7 mental health support.
Julie Bentley, chief executive at Samaritans, said: “One in four of us experience suicidal thoughts but suicide is not inevitable. Suicidal thoughts can be interrupted and a moment of human connection can be all it takes to save a life. Our volunteers answer a call for help every 10 seconds but we can’t prevent suicide alone – we are all on the same team and everyone has a role to play.
“Together Against Suicide is an amazing opportunity to reach thousands of people with the important message that it’s OK to talk more openly about suicide. By tackling societal stigma and creating more sources of support for those in crisis, this initiative will help us save lives.”
