TV and radio presenter Roman Kemp has launched a new Premier League initiative, Together Against Suicide, in partnership with the Samaritans. The scheme aims to break the taboo around mental health and provide support for fans experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Kemp, a lifelong Arsenal supporter, believes football's unique communal spirit can foster crucial conversations about mental health. 'There is something about it that is transcendent,' he said. 'It almost feels like religion to me.'
The initiative will operate online and in stadiums, with 11 clubs trialling information spaces. Kemp, who lost his best friend Joe Lyons to suicide in 2020, has spoken openly about his own clinical depression and suicidal thoughts. He emphasised that the key is not just encouraging people to talk, but helping them find proper support.
'When someone makes that first conversation, the likelihood of taking their own life drops significantly,' Kemp said. 'It's being able to have a proper conversation with someone that can show you the reality of the situation.'
Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 in the UK, a demographic heavily represented at football matches. Kemp hopes the scheme will help fans access help and have that vital first conversation.
