Duke of Sussex speaks about mental health stigma
The Duke of Sussex has spoken of his “unravelling” after he returned from his tour of Afghanistan, which he said triggered the trauma of losing his mother.
Speaking in his Heart of Invictus docuseries, released on Netflix today, Prince Harry said mental illness was a “dirty word” when he first joined the military and that he wanted to cure the “stigma” in society.
Jeff Harrison, CEO of Combat Stress, said: “I applaud Prince Harry for speaking out about the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging others to seek support if they’re struggling.
“On average veterans wait 13 years before asking for help by which time their mental health problems have become severe.
“We’re dedicated to eradicating the stigma of mental health issues and are working closely with the Ministry of Defence, NHS and other military charities to achieve this.
“No veteran should struggle in silence.”
Veterans struggling with their mental health can call our 24-hour Helpline for free confidential advice and support on 0800 138 1619, email helpline@combatstress.org, or text 07537 173 683 (standard rates may apply).
Heart of Invictus follows a group of service members on their road to the Invictus Games that Harry set up in 2014 for injured and sick military personnel and veterans.