Sharing his own approach towards mental health, Britain's Prince William shared said that he spends "a long time trying to understand my emotions" While talking on a panel for BBC Radio 1, as reported by Hindustan Times, Prince William, who is the heir to Britain's throne, emphasised the need to be open, especially when it comes to men, and advised people to be kind to themselves.
Calling for more male role models
During the broadcast, William highlighted the importance of normalising conversations around mental wellbeing. He said society needs "more male role models" who are willing to speak honestly about their feelings so that discussing mental health becomes natural rather than uncomfortable.
Also Read | UK can 'no longer' rely on US, MPs warn nation must prepare for war
The Prince appeared alongside several guests, including rapper Professor Green, in a discussion aimed at younger audiences. He emphasised that reaching out for help should never be viewed as weakness.
"It's OK to ask for support, ask a mate, reach out," said William.
A long-standing focus on mental health
Mental health advocacy has been a central cause for William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales for years. Their philanthropic foundation recently launched a nationwide suicide prevention network, reinforcing their continued engagement with the issue.
Reflecting on his own emotional awareness, William 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."
Suicide prevention and public concern
His remarks came as the Royal College of Psychiatrists urged the government to confront what it described as a "silent mental health pandemic" across England. The organisation reported that 4.1 million people, including 1.2 million children and young people, were in contact with mental health services in 2024/25, marking a 56 per cent rise over eight years, reported Hindustan Times.
William also spoke about suicide prevention, an issue he has addressed publicly before, including during a video released for World Mental Health Day. Recalling personal loss, the Prince, whose mother Princess Diana died in a 1997 car accident, underlined the value of education and open dialogue.
Also Read | UK asks for 'detailed' explanation over Air India fuel switch incident, warns of regulatory action
"If we talk about that more and educate people more, then hopefully the idea of suicide gets keeps being pushed further and further away because you know that tomorrow, actually you might wake up and you might feel very different."
He added that no individual has every coping mechanism readily available, saying, "I like to go around looking for new tools to put in my toolbox when I might need it and if we look at it like that, it does normalise the idea that the brain just needs sometimes a little bit of help."
