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Young royals tackle mental health stigma

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Prince Harry of Wales visited WRNMMC during his time in the United States. The officer in the British Army spent time talking to staff and wounded warriors while touring the Bethesda facilities. (Photos courtesy of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.)
Prince Harry of Wales visited WRNMMC during his time in the United States. The officer in the British Army spent time talking to staff and wounded warriors while touring the Bethesda facilities. (Photos courtesy of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.)       

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry are spearheading a new initiative, The Heads Together Campaign, to help tackle the stigma surrounding mental illness. 

With the support of their Royal Foundation, each royal will focus on a different mental health issue. William will concentrate on raising the profile of bullying, cyberbullying, and suicide among young men. Kate will look at issues affecting children and young people. Harry will focus on mental illness affecting members of the military, including “invisible injuries” from the battlefield. 

The project will be a partnership with a number of charities. The Duke of Cambridge summarized their mission: “Let’s get our heads together and change the conversation on mental health.”

See: https://www.headstogether.org.uk/ for more details.

Toni says: This initiative is about a very simple goal – making it OK to openly have mental health problems. From depression to anxiety to schizophrenia, sufferers of mental illness have had to hide their symptoms and their treatment from their bosses, colleagues, family and friends. Those who are gay have undergone a journey in recent years towards being able to reconcile their private and public identities – now those with mental health issues have started upon the same journey.

These young, vibrant royals have encouraged everyone this week to look past the labels; the public needs to meet them halfway and end the cycle of double standards, blame, shame and ignorance that characterise society’s vision of those who suffer.