Kate Middleton Talks Prince George And Princess Charlotte’s Mental Health, Joins In On Podcasts About The Subject
On Sunday Kate Middleton helped to launch a series of podcasts that seek to support children suffering from mental health issues. She opened up about her own view in regards to her own children and how she would respond should either Prince George of Princess Charlotte indicate they were struggling with mental health issues and in need of support.
Middleton shares that she and Prince William “wouldn’t hesitate” to seek help if either George or Charlotte needed support with their mental wellbeing. She is urging other parents to overcome the challenges and uncomfortable circumstance that may come when discussing such issues with children and also the nerves that go hand-in-hand in finding youths the help they may need. People shares the words of the Duchess of Cambridge.
“It doesn’t need to be like this. With the right help, children have a good chance of overcoming their issues while they are still young, and can have the bright future they deserve.”
The Duchess went on to point out that a “[third of adults ] say they would be embarrassed to seek help for their child’s mental health.” Kate goes on to remind that mental health should be viewed in the same way as physical health and notes that parents don’t hesitate to find help if their child is injured or sick, continuing to point out that mental health should be treated with the same urgency.
“No parent would fail to call the doctor if their child developed a fever, yet some children are tackling tough times without the support that can help them because the adults in their life are scared to ask. “Throughout my work with family and child support organizations, one thing that has stood out to me time and again is that getting early support for a child who is struggling to cope is the best possible thing we can do to help our children as they grow up.Knowing this, both William and I feel very strongly that we wouldn’t hesitate to get expert support for George and Charlotte if they need it.”
This message was in support of one the charities she has advocated for over the years, the Anna Freud Centre, which is releasing this series of podcasts, Child in Mind. The podcasts are designed to manage child and family mental health issues. The podcasts are each 20 minutes and focus on a specific issue in child and family mental health with an expert, young person and parent.
This particular initiative follows suit with all of the campaigns that Kate Middleton has been involved with supporting. She has built on the advocacy and support of many mental health organizations since she has been in the public eye. Prince William and Prince Harry have additionally joined the Duchess in an initiative that seeks to toss out the negative stigmas attached to mental health in the Heads Together Campaign. Hello Magazine relays recent details about this royal campaign. This initiative combines the efforts and voices of several charities.
Kate adds that she hopes the new podcasts will help families overcome fear on the subject.
“[It is hoped that the podcasts will] go some way to help families overcome that fear of what happens next if they look for professional support. They illustrate that many of the therapies are actually very simple and practical steps that include the whole family to help children make sense of the world around them. They show how with the right help, children have a good chance of overcoming their issues while they are still young, and can have the bright future they deserve. Please do listen, and share them with your friends and family and let’s change the way we all talk to each other about our mental health.”
The initial episode focuses on a child’s anxiety, featuring Professor of Developmental Clinical Psychology Cathy Creswell from the University of Reading.
[Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images]
