The Premier League has launched initiative ‘Together Against Suicide’ alongside charity Samaritans with TV broadcaster and Arsenal fan Roman Kemp an ambassador
Roman Kemp first came up with the idea two years ago. Now, on World Suicide Prevention Day, after a lot of hard work and endless meetings and phone calls, the Sky presenter and broadcaster has seen it come to fruition.
Arsenal fan Kemp has been profoundly affected by suicide as his best friend, radio producer Joe Lyons, took his own life in 2020. Kemp made a BBC documentary about the experience and has also revealed he had suicidal thoughts as a teenager.
That has led him to being a campaigner to raise awareness and get people talking. It was two years ago when Kemp first talked to Vinai Venkatesham – who was at Arsenal then but has since become Tottenham ’s chief executive – about the plan.
Latest data shows that one person in the UK takes their own life every 90 minutes and that a quarter of all people have had suicidal thoughts.
All 20 clubs are backing the Premier League’s “Together Against Suicide” initiative and 11 clubs are providing different forms of support for fans with messaging on advertising boards, match programmes and and on big screens at this weekend’s games.
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But a huge part of the plan is that it is not just a one-off but ongoing support as Tottenham have teamed up with Haringey Mind – they are the only club to join with a local community project – and Arsenal are organising a match day drop-in centre.
Kemp is such a good ambassador because he is down-to-earth, is a genuine football fan who connects with those going to games and his own personal experience means it is very personal and powerful.
Kemp said: “Football can make a difference. We are talking about the group of people who might be going through their own crisis but, once a week, they go to the football and they are focused on the pitch, looking forward and that’s the one thing they have in their minds.
“If we can make that connection – and football fans are the demographic we are talking about of under 50s – then it can make all the difference.”
Kemp also makes the campaign all the more powerful and relatable because of his friendship with Joe Lyons who continues to inspire him. “He was a huge Spurs fan,” smiled Kemp. “I never held it against him! But I’d go to visit the grave and I’m not someone who would go there and talk to the headstone or anything like that.
“But I would always wind him up and say: ‘They’ve never won anything for years!’ Then suddenly they win in the summer and I went there and I said: ‘You’ve done it at last.’ That’s football. That’s the connection and maybe if it helps one person stay then it’s made the difference.
“That’s why I am so proud to work on an initiative that puts compassion and connection at the heart of football and on something I really believe will make a difference to the fans that need it.”
Other clubs doing initiatives are Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton & Hove Albion, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton.
It is very much seen as a pilot scheme to see what works best as all clubs are doing different things. Venkatesham is a brilliant football executive because he engages with fans, cares about a club’s community and also found the Premier League were so keen to help.
Venkatesham said: “I’m sure that, as chief executive Richard Masters, gets about 50 ideas a day put his way and yet the Premier League were so supportive, every club is on board and, at this stage, it’s only 11 teams while we discover what works best in each scheme.
“But it was very important that this was something not just as a one-off but for the long term and I am someone who believes football has got such a big role to play. We constantly ask so much of fans in terms of fixture changes, schedules and the demands of following your team home and away. We need to make sure we can help them when they need us.
“We want fans to understand that one conversation can make all the difference, and that they can turn to their clubs for support when they need it most.”
Tottenham will be one of 11 clubs delivering the pilot project during the 2025/26 season, working alongside Mind in Haringey. Staff from the charity will be based at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during all Premier League matches across the season, beginning with the match against Wolves on Saturday 27 September, reachable at the end of a text service (available on WhatsApp 07399 928274) and available to meet confidentially with anyone who requires support on the day.
The service will also be available outside of home matchdays, with fans directed to a dedicated hub on Mind in Haringey’s website for out of hours support. Mind in Haringey uses recognised psychological scales to ensure all interventions are recorded and to assess the mental state of an individual. This includes a follow up or check in to ensure that the individual has received relevant support and that the intervention has reduced their suicide risk.
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email [email protected], visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.