Duchess Meghan and Prince Harry visited a mental health organization for youth in Australia on day three of their tour, and while there, the Sussexes dove deep into their personal struggles with mental wellness.
The visit was at batyr at Swinburne University of Technology, which works with young people to reduce stigmas around mental health, and focuses on preventative education and early intervention.
During a discussion with some young people associated with the organization, Meghan discussed her own experience with anxiety and depression triggered by online criticism. “For now, 10 years, every day for 10 years, I have been bullied and attacked. And I was the most trolled person in the entire world,” she said.
The duchess’ comment refers to her life since associating herself with the British royal family. In 2017, she and Harry became engaged, sparking waves of outrage amongst people who criticized her of disrupting the family’s dynamic, of attempting to steal the spotlight from Princess Kate, and more. She also received many hate comments targeted at her mixed-race background.
In 2018, Meghan and Harry married, and for two years, the duchess joined the family as a senior royal, attending public engagements and dressing the part. Meghan has previously spoken about that era as the hardest in her life, and even said that she was so mentally unwell when she became pregnant with Prince Archie, that she considered ending her own life.
In 2020, the Sussexes decided to step back from their senior royal titles, due, in part, to Meghan’s mental health struggles. Then, the public accused Meghan of separating the family and forcing Harry to leave the role he was born into.
Now, Meghan and Harry live in Montecito, California, with their two kids (Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet), and run their own projects. Meghan has a lifestyle brand, As Ever, and just wrapped her Netflix lifestyle show, With Love, Meghan. Of course, the criticism continues, but she’s learned to manage it for herself.
“Now, I’m still here,” she told the group, before offering them advice on how to navigate hateful internet culture and social media bullying. “And when I think of all of you and what you’re experiencing, I think so much of that is having to realize that you know that industry, that billion-dollar industry, that is completely anchored and predicated on cruelty to get clicks — that’s not going to change. So you have to be stronger than that,” Meghan said.
Harry also spoke of his experience with mental health struggles. “I waited until I was literally in the fetal position, much older, lying on the kitchen floor,” the prince said. “Until I was like, okay maybe this therapy thing—maybe I should try it.”
The couple also praised Australia’s recent ban on children under 16 using social media. “Australia took the lead,” Harry said. “Your government was the first country in the world to bring about a ban. Now we can sit here and debate the pros and cons of a ban—I’m not here to judge that. All I will say is from a responsibility and leadership standpoint—epic. Because so many countries have now followed suit, but it should have never got to a ban.”
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.harpersbazaar.com ’
