- She wants to do this with a new initiative.
Duchess Meghan celebrates her 43rd birthday this Sunday (4th August). According to "People" magazine, the wife of Prince Harry (39) will spend this day privately with her family. However, she is still making headlines. A new joint TV interview of Meghan and Harry was aired on "CBS Sunday Morning", where they draw attention to a new initiative against online hate and Meghan openly discusses her mental health struggles.
They launch "The Parents Network" to protect children on social media
Creating a better and healthier online world is one of the goals of their Archewell Foundation, which Harry and Meghan launched in 2020 after stepping back as senior royals in the UK. In the CBS interview, they discuss the launch of the "The Parents Network" initiative, which is aimed at parents who have lost children to suicide, often linked to the use of social media and cyberbullying.
For help with depression, you can contact the telephone counselling service under the free number: 0800/111 0111.
In their conversation with journalist Jane Pauley (73) to mark the official launch of the initiative on 4th August, Harry and Meghan discuss the impact of and the fight against online hate. "One of the scary things we've learned over the last 16, 17 years since social media has been around is that it can affect anyone," Harry says about the loss of parents. "We used to know what our kids were up to when they were under our roof. Now they could be in the next room on a tablet or phone, falling into these rabbit holes, which can have devastating consequences." Prince Harry emphasizes that "we're at a point where almost all parents have to be first responders." Even the best first responders often can't recognize potential signs. "That's the scary part."
Meghan reflects on Oprah interview
"Our children are young, they're three and five," Meghan says about Lilibet and Archie. "They're wonderful. All we want as parents is to protect them. And seeing what needs to be done in the online space, we're just glad we can be a part of driving that change for the better." The interview also touches on Meghan's own experiences, which connect her to these families, and which she shared in her 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey (70). In a clip from that interview shown in the "CBS Sunday Morning" segment, Meghan says, "I really felt ashamed to say it, especially to Harry, because I know how much he's been through."
In the new interview, Meghan explains, "I think when you've experienced pain or trauma, it's a part of our healing journey, at least for me, to be able to speak openly about it. And you know, I haven't even scratched the surface of my experiences." She doesn't want anyone else to feel the way she did. "And I would never want someone else to have those plans. And I would never want someone not to be believed." If she can share what she's overcome and help someone else, or encourage someone to look out for others and not assume everything is okay, it's worth it, Meghan says.
In the fight against online hate, Harry and Meghan stress the importance of parents being "first responders" due to the potential consequences of social media use. During their CBS interview, Prince Harry highlights that even the best parents may struggle to recognize potential signs of distress.
The devastating impact of cyberbullying and social media on children prompted Harry and Meghan to launch "The Parents Network," aimed at supporting parents who have lost children to suicide.
