Harry and Meghan chat with teens about trolling on World Mental Health Day podcast

Meghan Markle said she was “the most trolled person in the world in 2019,” even though she was out of the limelight for most of her maternity leave.

The Duchess of Sussex spoke about her mental health for the Teenager Therapy podcast, to mark World Mental Health Day.

Meghan and Harry sat down with three high school students and podcast hosts Gael, Kayla and Thomas at the couple’s Santa Barbara villa to discuss the topic of mental health and how we can all contribute to a healthier world. mentally, emotionally and holistically “. .

“I can speak personally because they told me that in 2019 I was the most trolled person in the whole world, male or female,” the Duchess told the podcast.

“Now, eight months of that was not even visible. I was on maternity leave or with a baby. But what could be manufactured and produced is almost insurmountable,” he added.

“That’s so big that you can’t even think about how it feels, because I don’t care if you’re 15 or 25, if people say things about you that aren’t true, what that does to your mind and emotional health. it’s so harmful.

“And so I think that from my point of view, and part of the work that we do from our own personal experience, to be able to talk to people and understand that although our experience is unique to us – and obviously it can seem very different from what people do. experience on a day-to-day basis – it is still a human experience and that is universal.

“We all know what it feels like when our feelings are hurt, we all know what it feels like to be isolated or ‘alien’ … we are all figuring it out.”

Meghan added that now she is doing “really well.” “We certainly cannot complain, we are fortunate that we all have our health, we have roofs over our heads,” he said.

Prince Harry explained that struggles for mental health should be seen in the context of the environment in which people find themselves.

“Most of the people I have spoken to in London, or in the UK, have been trapped in high-rise apartment buildings, unable to see any open grass or green spaces,” he said.

“We are incredibly grateful and fortunate to be able to have an outdoor space where our son can walk his first steps. Outdoor space where he can have enough space to run and move. It is a great blessing.

“It reminds me how many people are stacked on top of each other and have been month after month after month after month, and what that should do to people’s mental health.”

He recommended “putting personal care as a priority” at this time.

“Vulnerability is not a weakness, showing vulnerability in today’s world especially is a strength,” he said.

“We certainly got to see that more from some of those global leaders, because we got into this very deep hole that we have to get out of.”

According to Prince Harry, everyone’s situation is unique.

“For Meghan, she said on a global scale, that’s what happened in 2019, but if you’re a girl or a boy in school, that’s your world, so if you’re being attacked, bullied or whatever online. .. it feels the same, “he said.

“I think it is very easy to be absorbed and consumed by negativity, but we all have the option of being able to eliminate that from our lives.

“Hate of tracking has become a thing, you don’t need to do that. As much as we worry, worry and realize what we put into our stomach as a diet, the same applies to our eyes and our eyes. What we are consuming is affecting us.

“For me, I made the decision not to read it, not to see it, to walk away from it and to focus a lot on the uplifting and hopeful side.”

He says it all comes down to control: “You can control what you see, you can control what you do, so whether it’s notifications or vibrating tones, whatever it is, these things control you, instead of taking control.”

The Duke believes that the conversation about mental health should move from focusing on one group of people who are fighting everyone else.

“Instead of mental health focusing on the people who are struggling, it should go much further, and on the acceptance and appreciation that each and every one of us has mental health, and we all have things going on. that either we have to talk or what we need help with, or that we have some form of compassion and empathy for other people who are going through something similar, “he said.

Where to get help:

• Life line: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 050828865 (0508 SUPPORT) (available 24/7)
• Youth Services: (06) 3555 906
• Youth line: 0800 376 633
• Kidsline: 0800 543 754 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• What happens: 0800 942 8787 (1pm to 11pm)
• Helpline for depression: 0800111757 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week)
• Rainbow youth: (09) 376 4155
• CASPER suicide prevention

If it is an emergency and you feel that you or someone else is at risk, call 111.