Prince William recently defied the royal rule of silence on personal matters so he could speak out about his experience with mental health.
On Wednesday, February 18, he appeared on BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks to speak during the “Mental Health Special” episode alongside Professor Green and Guvna B. He went with the intention of speaking about the mental health crisis affecting men in the UK, as reported by US.
He said, “I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do, and I feel like that’s a really important process to do every now and again.” William then encouraged other men to “check in with yourself“ to figure out where their feelings come from.
The royal spoke about the number of men who committed suicide and called it a “real national catastrophe” that hasn’t been talked about on a larger scale.
“We need more male role models out there, talking about it and normalizing it, so that it becomes second nature to all of us,” William stated.
The Prince of Whales encouraged everyone who was listening to learn more about themselves and “learn to love yourself.”
Mental health crisis’ can have an obvious explanation or none at all, he explains. William also reminded listeners that a mental health crisis can be temporary — “You can have a strong mental health crisis moment, but it will pass.”
He revealed the William’s Royal Foundation will contribute $1.3 million to develop a National Suicide Prevention Network for the United Kingdom. The Prince wants his people to see it as a “little stepping stone” to help them in times of mental health crisis.
He hopes that through more education and visibility, the idea of suicide will be “pushed further and further away.” He continued, “Because you know that tomorrow, you might wake up, and you might feel very different.”
Prince William also admitted that mental health is a large topic of conversation with his wife, Princess of Wales Kate Middleton. They also talk to their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, about it.
When talking to his children, he said they sometimes share too much information, “I get all the details, which I love, it’s amazing.”
Until recent history, the royal family has shied away from any topic that might be too personal for public consumption, but that’s changed in recent years as they put more emphasis on mental health.
If you are in the US or Canada and need mental health assistance, call 988.