The Royal Family Comes Together To Fight The Stigma Surrounding Mental Illness

The stigma surrounding mental health problems can the biggest barrier people face to getting help. According to Psychology Today, “There are still attitudes within most societies that view symptoms of psychopathology as threatening and uncomfortable, and these attitudes frequently foster stigma and discrimination towards people with mental health problems.” These attitudes can prevent people with serious problems from getting much-needed help. That’s why a new program sponsored by the Royal Foundation is so important.

Sunday night, a new initiative was announced by Kensington Palace on behalf of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate on this side of the pond) and Prince Harry. The three are leading the Heads Together campaign to fight the stigma surrounding mental illness. Individually, all three have worked on projects to help people with psychological problems in the past. Harry has spoken out about the lack of support available for soldiers with PTSD. William has worked closely with mentally-ill homeless people, and Kate has been an advocate for children’s mental health.

“Mental health is just as important as physical health,” Princess Kate said in a statement. “We can all play our part by helping and listening to each other and helping each other find support,” Prince Harry added. To kick off the Heads Together campaign, it’s been named the 2017 London Marathon Charity of the Year. You can earn more about the charity by using #HeadsTogether on social media or by visiting its website.