Meghan and Harry interview has 'spread unease' says Lumley

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Meghan Markle opened up about her mental health during her sit-down chat with Oprah interview. In the two-hour programme, which aired on ITV on Monday night, the Duchess revealed the Firm failed to support her when she was feeling suicidal. In response to this, leading psychotherapists and mental health campaigns have urged the Royal Family to do more.

Kim Rutherford, a qualified psychotherapist, told Express.co.uk she believes the route of the problem could lie with older generations.

She said: “It’s arguable, that it’s some of the older generation of the Royal Family that don’t necessarily feel comfortable sharing, but that also coincides with traditional belief systems of older generations across the board.

“So should the Royal Family be doing more to promote mental health awareness, yes.. and they’ve just been given an opportunity to go really big with it.”

Ms Rutherford isn’t the only one to call on the Royal Family to do more for mental health awareness.

Psychologist Dr Maryhan Baker told this website: “I think the Royal Family, among others in the public domain could talk more openly about their own mental health.

“The demands faced by the Royal Family by virtue of the scrutiny they face and the weight of expectation is likely to place unprecedented demands on their wellbeing.

“The public smiles and happiness, while great for the cameras, do little to paint a realistic picture of the toll these demands must place on them, and it paints an unrealistic public picture, by which others may judge and compare themselves.”

Dr Mariam Adegoke, GP and founder of Adegoke Wellness Clinic, added: “There is still so much work that needs to be done when it comes to breaking the stigma/taboo around mental health.

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“And people will always respond to those in power being role models and advocates for mental health.

“So the more conversations people higher up are having, the more normal it becomes to have these conversations.”

During her interview with Oprah, Meghan said she had suicidal thoughts while pregnant with Archie in 2019.

She told Oprah that she went to one of the Palace institution’s “most senior people” for support after experiencing thoughts of self-harm.

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The Duchess said: “I went to the institution. And I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help.

“I said, I never felt this way before and I need to go somewhere.

“I was told that I couldn’t. That it wouldn’t be good for the institution.”

She later added: “I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought.”

Prince Harry later told the US journalist “a lack of support and a lack of understanding” led to the couple stepping down as senior royals last year.

Dr Helen Maffini, from Mindbe Education, told Express.co.uk the Royal Family “missed an opportunity” to address the couple’s worries about the lack of mental health support.

She said: “I think the Royal Family missed an opportunity here to say we are immediately going to look at the systems in place within our institution and among ourselves, we will be having training for every staff member and will revamp how mental health is handled- we can do better.”

If you need to speak to someone, contact Mind.org.uk or call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email [email protected].

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