Harry grew up in one of the most famous families in the world. He also dealt with the death of his mother at a young age. The Duke of Sussex has shared that therapy is one way he cares for his mental health in his tumultuous life.
In the 2021 docuseries The Me You Can’t See, Harry shared that his wife, Meghan Markle, encouraged him to seek therapy. However, according to biographer Angela Levin, Harry previously told her that the person who got him to consider therapy was his brother, Prince William. Another royal author, Katie Nicholl, also backed up this claim that William suggested therapy to Harry before Meghan did.
Comparison elaborated
Recently, Prince Harry has had a rare and honest conversation about his mental health, taking a deep dive into his experience with therapy and welcoming how seeking support is praised in the US, where he now lives with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, in comparison to the UK.
Speaking on the Masters of Scale podcast, the Duke of Sussex noted the “immense cultural differences” between Britain’s stiff-upper-lip attitude to therapy and America’s “I’ll get my therapist to call your therapist” way of thinking.
Although the UK’s awareness of mental health care has improved radically, there is still an associated stigma that remains a surprise for most people. For instance, a visit to a psychologist in the US is perceived as somewhat routine. but that’s not so in Britain, where seeking therapy is a big step; it’s an admission of an illness that is considered shameful, so therapy sessions would probably be kept secret.
Much of this has its roots in Britain’s reserved culture, the idea that someone who is, for example, depressed should “just get on with it,” “sort it out,” and not under any circumstances “make a fuss.” Those seeking treatment would not tell their colleagues at work, fearing it would hamper their careers. What’s more, to claim that the work itself was contributing to depression or anxiety would be viewed as an admission that you simply weren’t up to the job.
Royal attempts to promote mental health in the UK
While Harry is promoting mental health in California, other royals are promoting it in the U.K. For example, in 2016, Prince William and Kate Middleton launched a mental health initiative called Heads Together.
The couple has since been trying to start conversations about mental health among children and adults.
William and Kate also lead by example. They have opened up to the public about some difficulties they have faced, such as William’s time working as an air ambulance pilot and the toll it took on him.
Kate has also admitted to dealing with challenges as a mother. Additionally, William has shared that he wants his children to grow up understanding their emotions, which he believes will help them navigate various difficulties in life.