Young royals in 'national takeover' to help tackle poor mental health
The royal quartet will narrate a short film launching the Every Mind Matters campaign.
Monday 7 October 2019 06:52, UK
The Dukes and Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex have joined forces to support聽a new government campaign aimed at helping people with mental health problems.
The royal quartet narrate a short film launching the Every Mind Matters campaign - an initiative from Public Health England and the NHS.
The three-minute video, which will also feature actress Gillian Anderson and presenters Clare Balding and Davina McCall, will be screened simultaneously during ad breaks on Sky, Channel 4, ITV, Channel 5 and MTV at 8.45pm on Monday.
The first ever "television takeover" will be watched by an estimated 10.3 million UK viewers.
Narrating the video, William begins: "Everyone knows that feeling, when life gets on top of us.
"All over the country, millions of us face challenges to our mental health - at all ages - at all intensities, and for all sorts of reasons.
"We feel stressed, low, anxious, or have trouble sleeping. Me, you..."
Harry continues: "...your brother, your mother, your colleague, or your neighbour. Waiting, wondering, hoping, hurting.
"We think there's nothing to be done. Nothing we can do about it."
Meghan then counters: "But that's so wrong. There are things we can do. From today, there's a new way to help turn things around. Every Mind Matters will show you simple ways to look after your mental health."
Kate continues: "It'll get you started with a free online plan designed to help you deal with stress, boost your mood, improve your sleep and feel more in control."
The platform will allow users to take a health quiz and offer them a personalised "mind plan" with practical tips around managing anxiety, low mood, sleep and stress.
Health officials hope it will empower people to practically manage their symptoms to stop their mental health escalating, which would in time reduce pressure on clinical services and free up capacity.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the project harnesses the "power of modern technology to do good when we know it also can help contribute to some of these problems".
He added: "It draws together the importance of treating our mental health on an equal basis to our physical health, and treating it both as an asset that each individual needs to invest in, supported by the NHS and by the government, as opposed to just something that just needs to be fixed when it goes wrong."