Meghan Markle and Prince Harry recently gave their first joint interview since 2021, discussing their newest initiative.
The Duchess of Sussex candidly spoke about her experience with suicidal thoughts, highlighting the importance and personal significance of this issue in her advocacy efforts.
On Sunday, Meghan and Harry sat down with Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning to discuss their new initiative aimed at raising awareness about the dangers social media poses to children.
During the interview, the couple highlighted their efforts with parents whose children have tragically lost their lives due to online bullying.
Reflecting on her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, where she first publicly discussed her mental health struggles, Meghan shared the importance of being open about such experiences.
“There is a through-line, I think, when you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma,” Meghan said. “I believe part of our healing journey, certainly part of mine, is being able to be really open about it. I haven’t really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way, make those sorts of plans, or not be believed.”
During her interview with Oprah, Meghan, who was pregnant with Princess Lilibet at the time, recounted a particularly distressing moment when she sought help from the institution.
“I went to the institution and said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I told them, ‘I’ve never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere,’” she recalled. “And I was told that I couldn’t, that it wouldn’t be good for the institution.”
In the CBS interview, Meghan emphasized the importance of sharing her experience despite the discomfort it might cause.
“So, if voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone to really check in on themselves regularly and not just assume that appearances mean everything is OK, then that’s worth it,” she said. “I’ll take a hit for that.”
The couple’s new initiative, The Parents’ Network, is part of their Archewell Foundation and focuses on raising awareness about the risks social media poses to children and teens. For Harry and Meghan, this pilot program represents a crucial step towards meaningful change.
“I think you have to start somewhere,” Meghan said. “The simplest thing anyone watching this or anyone capable of making change can do is look at it through the lens of ‘what if it was my daughter, my son?’ Imagine your child, who comes home joyful and loved, and one day, right under your roof, your entire life changes because of something beyond your control. As a parent, there’s no other way to see it than to try and find a solution.”
Since their marriage in May 2018, Harry and Meghan have become parents to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3. In the interview, they spoke about their “amazing” children and how their roles as parents influence their work.
“Our kids are young, they’re 3 and 5,” Meghan said. “They’re amazing. But all you want to do as parents is protect them. As we see what is happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to do, and we’re just happy to be part of a change for good.”
Harry echoed Meghan’s sentiments about the responsibilities of parenthood in the digital age. “At this point, almost every parent needs to be a first responder. Even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t always be able to identify the signs of possible suicide. That is the terrifying part,” he said.
Through their ongoing efforts with The Parents’ Network and other initiatives, Harry and Meghan continue to advocate for safer online environments, drawing from their personal experiences and commitment to their children’s future.
