During a visit to Bethlem and Maudsley School last week, the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton recorded a call to action video released today to mark the start of Children's Mental Health Week. The campaign, which seeks to combat stigma against mental health services, is led by the Place2Be children's charity in the UK. And this year the message comes in light of new studies which reveal that a third of parents would feel embarrassed if their 15 to 18-year-olds sought mental health from counselors at their schools.
While the new survey may reveal a common underlying stigma, Middleton and Place2Be say that the continued misconceptions are preventing children from seeking vital help. And as the Royal Patron to the children's charity, the Duchess of Cambridge is speaking out against the stigma around mental health.
"Through Place2Be I have seen the benefits of offering children support for their mental health in the safety of the school environment" Middleton says. "Both William and I sincerely believe that early action can prevent problems in childhood from turning into larger ones later in life."
"Together, with open conversation and greater understanding, we can ensure that attitudes towards mental health change and children receive the support they deserve."
Pregnant with the second royal child, which Kate and Prince William expect to be due this April, the Duchess has spent much of this last year attending numerous events for the charity. And now at the head of this important campaign, she is making children's mental health a serious topic in the public sphere.
"We're thrilled to have the support of our Royal Patron, HRH The Duchess of Cambridge, for this important new campaign" CEO of Place2Be, Catherine Roche says. "By raising awareness of the benefits of getting support early for mental health issues, we hope to change attitudes and help reduce the risk of more complex and serious problems when those children reach adulthood."
"We'd encourage all parents and carers to take a look at the ideas and tips on our website about to talk to children about their mental health today."
Though the campaign marks the start of a new national campaign in the UK, Middleton and the charity hope that the vital message is of international importance to nations around the world. Want to hear what the Duchess has to say? Check out the video below, and let us know what you think about the important topic.
