Prince Harry: Mental health and climate change are two most pressing social issues

Mental health and climate change are “the two most pressing issues” society is facing, the Duke of Sussex said.

Harry was speaking in The Me You Can’t See: A Path Forward, which was released on Apple TV in the early hours of Friday, in which the issues of self-harm and suicide were broached.

Earlier in the docuseries, Harry said he was “somewhat ashamed” of the way he dealt with Meghan sharing her suicidal thoughts before a charity event at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2019.

Listening and being part of the conversion is the best first step

Harry picked up on a point raised by Jo Robinson, head of suicide prevention research at Orygen, about the importance of talking openly about suicide and self-harm.

Such communication helps give voice to something that’s “terribly distressing and terribly frightening for them to talk about”, she said.

The duke said: “I think it’s so interesting because so many people are afraid of being on the receiving end of that conversation (about suicide) because they don’t feel as though they have the right tools to be able to give the right advice but what you’re saying is you’re there.

“Listen, because listening and being part of that conversation is, without a doubt, the best first step that you can take.”