Prince Harry sharing struggles after Diana's death could help him settle down with Meghan
Harry – who is dating US actress Meghan Markle – finally sought help after waiting nearly 20 years following Diana’s tragic death in a car crash. By speaking out, the prince has come to terms with demons in his life and it will help his daily relationships, according to mental health charities. Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity Mind, said opening the conversation is “the first step in making sure people get the help and support they need”.
WIREIMAGE Prince Harry has decided to open up about undergoing therapy
He added: “It’s inspiring to see Prince Harry speaking out about his experiences. It shows how far we have come in changing public attitudes to mental health that someone so high profile can open up about something so difficult and personal. “We know that this will have a huge impact on people who are still struggling in silence with their mental health. Every time someone in the public eye speaks up we know that it encourages ordinary members of the public to do the same.
PA Harry with his mother Diana in 1995. He said he bottled up his grief after her death
“Prince Harry speaking so candidly is a true turning point that shows that as a society we must no longer adopt a ‘stiff upper lip’ attitude and that we need to talk openly about mental health, something that affects us all directly.”
It’s inspiring to see Prince Harry speaking out about his experiences Paul Farmer
Harry, 32, has confirmed he is dating Miss Markle, 35, but has not said he is about to settle down. However, the cathartic effect of speaking can improve relationships, it is claimed. His decision to go public with his own struggles will also help countless others – especially men who tend to suffer mental illness in silence, according to mental health campaigners.
Prince Harry in pictures Tue, March 21, 2017 Prince Harry royal visits around the world and a mixture of all the charitable work he's done. Play slideshow Getty Images 1 of 326 Prince Harry during a visit to Hamilton College on March 21, 2017 in Leicester
Sue Baker, director of the Time to Change campaign, said: “Prince Harry sharing his experiences of mental health issues, and the counselling he sought as a result of losing his mother will have helped change attitudes, not just at home but also overseas. “It was a dream of mine 20 years ago that we’d see the Royal Family join sports people, music stars, politicians and business leaders as well as everyday people in sharing their mental health experiences in all sorts of communities. “People speaking out helps to overturn generations of stigma by shifting outdated attitudes and challenging discrimination, and that together we are making long-lasting positive social change.” Harry revealed he sought help following two years of “total chaos” in his life. He said this came after he had spent nearly 20 years “not thinking” about Diana’s death.
APF/ GETTY Harry, 12, with his father Prince Charles at Diana's funeral
Harry was 12 years old when his mother – then divorced from father Charles – was killed in a car crash but he said it was not until his late 20s that he processed the grief. Harry said: “My way of dealing with it was sticking my head in the sand, refusing to ever think about my mum, because why would that help? “I thought it’s only going to make you sad, it’s not going to bring her back. “So from an emotional side, I was like ‘right, don’t ever let your emotions be part of anything’. So I was a typical 20, 25, 28-year-old running around going ‘life is great’, or ‘life is fine’ and that was exactly it. “And then I started to have a few conversations and actually all of a sudden, all of this grief that I have never processed started to come to the forefront and I was like, there is actually a lot of stuff here that I need to deal with.” He added he had shut down his emotions after Diana’s death which had “a quite serious effect on not only my personal life but my work as well”. The Prince said he sought help after his brother, the Duke of Cambridge, told him: “Look, you really need to deal with this.
WIREIMAGE Harry's girlfriend US actress Meghan Markle