Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesBy KATIE KINDELAN, ABC News
(LONDON) — Prince William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, took over radio stations in the U.K. for a moment Monday to share a message on protecting one’s mental health during thecoronavirus pandemic.
William and Kate, who have been outspoken advocates of mental health support, both shared a message of using this time to connect with others and seek support when needed.
“We’re all connected. And sometimes just talking about how you’re feeling can make a big difference,” William said on the broadcast. “So right now, let’s join together across the U.K. and reach out to someone.”
“If you’re struggling, it’s important to talk about it. Or if someone you know is acting differently, it’s OK to ask how they are,” said Kate. “Use this moment to send a message.”
One minute. Across every single radio station in the UK.
To kick off #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek, this year’s #MentalHealthMinute is an important reminder that wherever or whoever you are, you are not alone.
For more, visit: https://t.co/IBZrgl7iUE pic.twitter.com/OyNnJHRZs3
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 18, 2020
William and Kate spoke about mental health alongside celebrities including singer Dua Lipa and actor David Tennant during the Mental Health Minute special broadcast that aired simultaneously across every radio station in the U.K. Monday morning, the start of Mental Health Awareness Week in the U.K.
The minute-long message was produced in part by Heads Together, the mental health campaign launched by William, Kate and Prince Harry in 2016.
Heads Together is also joining with Instagram on its new Guides tool that will allow users to find curated tips and resources on mental health and wellness. The Heads Together Wellbeing Guides will include A Guide to Talking, A Guide to Self-Care and a Guide to Kindness, according to Kensington Palace.
William and Kate have been staying at their family’s Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, England, with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, during the U.K.’s stay-at-home orders.
The Cambridges, who are now homeschooling George and Charlotte due to the pandemic, have been using video calls to stay in touch with family and reach out to thank people including teachers and healthcare workers on the front lines.
“It’s really hard,” Kate said in an interview earlier this month about how her kids are coping with not seeing friends and family members. “We hadn’t done a huge amount of FaceTime and face calls and things like that, but obviously we’re doing that a lot more now, and actually it’s been really great.”
“We try and check in daily with family members and speak to them about news and things like that, and in some ways I suppose we’ve got a lot more face time than perhaps we would have done before but it is difficult,” she added. “It’s hard to explain to a five- and a six-, nearly seven-year-old, what’s going on.”
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