Prince William on mental health issues: ‘We need to keep talking’

'It’s so important that we value our mental health' says Duchess of Cambridge

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge have spoken out on mental health issues. AFP

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have released a video stressing the importance of talking about mental health issues.
However, William and Kate said that more still needs to be done to remove the stigma that surrounds it.

The video was released as the royal family responds to the Oprah TV interview where Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said there were problems in the way the family handled her mental health issues.
William and Kate, who have long supported mental health awareness, recorded a message of support to mark the end of the Time to Change campaign, which has run for about 15 years.

Kate, sitting beside William, said: “The work isn’t done yet and we cannot afford to stop here.”

The duke added: “We need to keep talking, keep taking action and continue to stand up to the stigma.”

“It’s so important that we value our mental health just as much as we value our physical health," the duchess continued.

In the Sussexes’ interview, Harry and Meghan accused the royal family of racism and said the institution had failed to help Meghan when she was suicidal, even when she begged for help.

Prince Harry said he was ashamed of admitting to his family that the Duchess of Sussex needed help when she was suicidal. “That’s just not a conversation that would be had,” Harry said in his bombshell televised interview.

This week, he announced his new job as chief impact officer of coaching and mental health at BetterUp Inc.

His new role is expected to focus on product strategy decisions and charitable contributions, as well as advocating publicly on topics related to mental health.
In the new video, William said more action was needed but mental health had moved into the mainstream of daily life.

“We wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences and taken action through Time to Change, helping to challenge the stigma which surrounds mental health,” the duke said.

Kate added: “Movements like Time to Change have helped to transform attitudes and encouraged more openness about mental health in schools, communities and the workplace.”