[Music]
prince william and kate middleton have
recently returned from a royal
appearance in scotland the couple also
known by their alternate royal titles
earl and countess of strathearn spent
two days meeting and talking with people
about topics and causes that are close
to their hearts children mental health
and homelessness during the visit the
duke and duchess of cambridge also
emphasized personal connections kate
spent time snuggling and reading to a
baby at st john's primary school where
the royal couple participated in a roots
of empathy program per the daily mail
the program teaches the concept of
empathy by allowing school-aged children
to observe and interact with babies at a
stop at a property managed by the
wheatley group in glasgow william showed
off his dad's side by playing with a
two-year-old girl and making silly faces
when the duke and duchess met another
tenant joanne wales kate chatted with
her about their son's mutual love of
spider-man reflecting on the visit will
said per hello
they just put you at ease they are so
nice and welcoming during the trip
william and kate further demonstrated
their approachability by breaching royal
protocol and taking a selfie with a fan
after they returned home the royal
couple promoted the topic of connection
with a special heartfelt message on the
radio that reached a huge audience
introducing themselves simply as william
and catherine they addressed the very
real issue of loneliness and its
connection to mental health
according to prince william and kate
middleton's royal foundation the duke
and duchess shared a special message as
part of mental health awareness week the
2022 mental health minute reached
approximately 20 million listeners when
it aired on more than 500 radio stations
throughout the uk on may 13th loneliness
is the theme for 2022's mental health
awareness week and mental health uk is
emphasizing the importance of connecting
with people the message was recorded at
william and kate's home at kensington
palace per people and it featured the
royal couple discussing ways people can
help each other cope with loneliness
particularly after the isolation and
difficulties of the coven 19 pandemic
the prince explained we're all in
different places right now and we can
all feel lonely sometimes
kate added small acts of kindness can
make a big difference and help us all
feel less lonely just give them a ring
send them a text or knock on their door
william further noted maybe suggest
meeting for a cup of tea or a walk
after william apologized for the
interruption in regular programming kate
added if we interrupt the lives of those
who are feeling alone
with william concluding we can help lift
them out of loneliness
the office for national statistics
pulled adults on feelings of isolation
in may 2020 and from october 2020 to
february 2021. during that time an
additional 1.1 million people reported
persistent loneliness per independent
prince william and kate middleton have
been at the forefront of mental health
advocacy since may 2016 when they
started heads together with prince harry
the initiative encompasses eight mental
health charities and the royals ability
to speak openly about mental health has
increased awareness and support for this
cause at the time they began the
organization none of their celebrity
contacts were willing to join them
william explained at a conference
for some reason we're all embarrassed by
emotions british people particularly
were very embarrassed by revealing our
emotions but that didn't deter the
couple's work on may 6th kate became the
royal patron of maternal mental health
alliance which will enable her to
combine her efforts in promoting mental
health and supporting mothers and young
children her romper the duchess has said
that she quote wouldn't hesitate to seek
professional mental health help if her
children needed it further adding to the
couple's openness she said per hello
magazine the mental health of our
children must be seen as every bit as
important as their physical health for
too long we have been embarrassed to
admit when our children need emotional
or psychiatric help worried that the
stigma associated with these problems
would be detrimental to their futures
this is the cambridge's fifth mental
health minute per independent last year
they were joined by celebrities like
david beckham jamie oliver and joanna
lumley this year the royal couple
delivered the entire message as a duo
if you or someone you know is struggling
with mental health please contact the
crisis text line by texting home to 741
741 or call the national alliance on
mental illness helpline at
1-800-950-nami
6264 or visit the national institute of
mental health website