Sunderland AFC to deliver support for fans as part of Premier League's Together Against Suicide initiative

Fans attending home fixtures of Sunderland AFC will have access to mental health support throughout the Stadium of Light as part of the Premier League’s Together Against Suicide initiative. The activity forms part of the Premier League's Together Against Suicide initiative, which brings clubs, players and communities together between 4 and 14 September to raise awareness of suicide prevention and remind people that support is available.

Premier League funding will enable Sunderland and all other top-flight clubs to offer tailored environments at home matchdays during the 2026/27 season, providing fans with the opportunity to talk in safe, non-judgemental settings, while also signposting them to trusted support organisations and services. This League wide support builds on a successful pilot programme involving 11 clubs last season.

Launching our participation in the initiative at this weekend’s Premier League match against Arsenal, Sunderland will have local artist Chris Cummings producing a piece of live art in Legends Way under the tagline of ‘One Conversation Can Change The Score’ which will then be displayed at the Beacon of Light.

Throughout the season, mental health support volunteers will be present at Sunderland matches with the support of Washington Mind and the Foundation of Light. These volunteers will be wearing black jackets with ‘One Conversation Can Change The Score’ on the back and will be able to provide any supporter with guidance of mental health support available locally and nationally.

Washington Mind, a partner throughout this season as part of this initiative, is a well-established, local charitable organisation, that has supported the Sunderland community for over four decades. Their work includes a range of support, training and initiatives designed to prevent suicide and save lives.

At other dates throughout the season, a coffee van ran by James Fildes – Founder of Space North East – will also be situated off the new bridge with the intention being to start conversations around mental health and to signpost people to support. Another of Sunderland’s partners in ‘One Conversation Can Change The Score’ is Space North East, a service that runs free sessions for men across the North East throughout the week including boxing, yoga, walking grounds and personal development. All sessions are run by North East men, some of whom have been through mental health difficulties themselves. Since 2022, Space has supported more than 3000 attendees with services funded by a national funding and proceeds from the Coffee Space, their mobile coffee van used as a vehicle to start conversations.

The Premier League are working with mental health charity Samaritans throughout the Together Against Suicide initiative, as well as throughout the season, and all volunteers as part of our work alongside the campaign will be able to point any supporters seeking support in their direction.

Beyond matchday, Foundation of Light’s Game of II Halves programme will play a key role in supporting Together Against Suicide throughout the season, providing a safe, welcoming space to talk, connect and access support. Through weekly sessions, the programme uses the shared connection of football to break down barriers around mental health, encourage conversations and help build supportive networks.

The programme’s growing network of Game of II Halves Ambassadors will also take that message into workplaces across the North East, helping colleagues recognise when someone may be struggling, encouraging open conversations and signposting people towards appropriate support – extending ‘One Conversation Can Change The Score’ far beyond matchday. Further information on the Game of II Halves programme is available on the
Foundation’s website here.

Developed in partnership with suicide prevention charity Samaritans, and with support from broadcaster Roman Kemp and Tottenham Hotspur CEO, Vinai Venkatesham, Together Against Suicide helps raise awareness of the information and expertise available to those who need it most.

The Department of Health and Social Care is also a partner in the Together Against Suicide initiative, working to tackle male suicide and increase access to and understanding of mental health support as part of its Men’s Health Strategy. This builds on the government's national Suicide Prevention Strategy which identifies actions to reduce lives lost to suicide.

Someone in the UK takes their own life every 90 minutes, while one in four people will experience suicidal thoughts in their lifetime. Through Together Against Suicide, the Premier League and its clubs aims to help more people recognise when someone may be struggling and provide them with the tools to feel confident starting a conversation that could make a difference.

Following the launch of Together Against Suicide in September 2025, Samaritans recorded up to 300 more callers to its national helpline each day. This increase in calls highlights the real impact that raising awareness can have.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "Football clubs are at the heart of their communities and can play a powerful role in helping people during difficult times.

"The expansion of Together Against Suicide to all 20 Premier League clubs is an important step forward. By creating safe, welcoming spaces on matchdays, clubs can encourage conversations and help supporters affected by suicide or suicidal thoughts access the support and expert advice they need.

“The response to last season’s pilot programme showed the difference that raising awareness and encouraging conversations can make. By expanding this initiative across the League, we want more supporters to know that help is available, and they never have to face these challenges on their own.

"We are proud to continue working alongside Samaritans and our clubs on this important initiative, demonstrating how football can help tackle stigma and make a positive difference."

The Premier League has a long-standing commitment to supporting mental health and wellbeing through its clubs and community programmes. Working alongside Samaritans and other partners in the space, it has supported more than 3,000 Premier League and club staff, as well as fans, with training around suicide prevention, supporting conversations that help improve people’s understanding of the issue and reminding them that suicide is preventable.

Anyone who is struggling to cope, or is worried about someone else, can contact Samaritans free of charge, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by calling 116 123 or visiting www.samaritans.org.

If you or someone else is experiencing a mental health crisis you can visit NHS 111 Online, or call NHS 111 and select the mental health option for 24-hour urgent advice and support.