Prince Harry Talks Mental Health Initiatives for Armed Forces
Prince Harry announced a joint initiative involving the Ministry of Defense and the Royal Foundation which is targeted at mental health issues.
At the Ministry of Defense, the 33-year-old royal who spent 10-years in the army emphasized the need to bring mental health strategies at the forefront of military training.
"Quite simply, these men and women are prized assets which need to be continually invested in. We surely have to think of them as high-performance athletes, carrying all their kit, equipment and a rifle," he said. "Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too."
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Prince Harry stressed the need to promote mental health management before issues like post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression could develop.
To support the initiative, the foundation will dedicate resources and will offer advice to improve training, education, and proper dissemination of information for the entire armed forces. The program will offer annual briefings, will have a website, and will set up specialist support for raising mental health awareness among military personnel.
The initiative aims to create a healthier and more effective armed forces. Defense secretary Sir Michael Fallon pointed out that they are as serious about improving mental health as they are with combat skills and technology.
In celebration of World Health Day on Tuesday, Prince Harry joined his brother Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton in spearheading Heads Together, which is composed of several charities that aim to reduce the stigma of mental health issues.
On the same event, Prince Harry met a service dog named Cooper who kept his owner former Marine Phil Eaglesham company.
Eaglesham believes in the Prince's advocacy, given that he knows how veterans like him feel. He said that they look up to him because of this initiative.
