Former air ambulance pilot Prince William spoke candidly on Tuesday about absorbing the pain and suffering he witnessed on the job.
“I took a lot home without realizing it,” he said at a mental health event in Bristol. “You see [so] many sad things every day that you think life is like that.”
Speaking about his time in the emergency services, he added, “You’re always dealing with despair and sadness and injury. The attrition builds up and you never really have the opportunity to offload anything if you’re not careful.”
The royal dad, 36, opened up as he launched Mental Health at Work, a free U.K.-wide portal for employers and employees that marks another important stride forward in the royals’ ongoing mental health campaign.
Sitting around a table in Yurt Lush café 120 miles west of London, William noted the particular toll on first responders. “You’re human and a lot of people forget the battles, you have shut it off to do the job — but ultimately something pierces the armor.” He noted that he was “stunned” that just 2 percent of people feel comfortable talking to their workplace human resources department about mental health.
Paramedic Dawn Anderson, 45, told him of suffering two episodes in 2011 that she covered up for fear of being told she was incapable of doing her job. She was eventually diagnosed with PTSD.
“He feels like a colleague as well as a leader,” Anderson told PEOPLE. “He is so calm and approachable. He has a real relaxed presence about him. It has been a positive and wonderful experience.
“I’ve always held the belief that everybody is susceptible to mental health problems, and I wouldn’t expect even a member of the royal family to be exempt from that,” she added. “To hear him admit that just goes to prove how good it is to speak about these things and how positive that can be. And it goes towards removing that stigma about mental health and to speaking up to and owning up to it.”
Paul Farmer, CEO of U.K. mental health charity Mind, said after William had spoken that there were 100 people per second looking at the Mind site at one point today. “It’s a good sign and tells us there’s a huge need for this area,” he added.
“Half the people at work are living with a mental health problem — either now or it’s in the past,” Farmer said. “This is taking the best of the best that already exists and turns it into something we can mainstream.”
Farmer also remarked on William’s depth of knowledge: “My firm belief is that all of [the royals] and particularly the Duke — in this context — have done a lot of background work and really thought about this issue and their commitment is 100 percent real.
“You heard in his speech talking about his experiences on the frontline. It’s really tough work as an air ambulance and search and rescue pilot. He knows how important this is for people at work. His commitment is constantly enhanced as we go along on this journey.”
The royals’ Heads Together campaign “has always wanted to talk the talk and walk the walk,” says Farmer. “They wanted to show the public commitment to tackling the stigma. We know what a difference that made. But they also wanted to invest in three particular areas — the military, schools and workplaces. And this is the product of that.”
TAKE ACTION
ACT
- Pay more attention to mental health and well-being and encourage it in others
- Support a loved one/friend/colleague who is living with a mental health issue or illness, who is going through a difficult time, is struggling with suicidal thoughts or has lost a loved one to suicide
- Take a suicide alertness or intervention training such as SafeTALK or ASIST or Mental Health First Aid. Just like we learn physical first aid skills we can also learn emotional first aid skills. Encourage families/friends/co-workers/faith groups/coaches to take training in your community. Raise funds and host one!
- Host a World Suicide Prevention Day Event in your community if one does not already exist
Volunteer
Although CASP does not offer services where you can help out each week, there are different ways you can help from your home including assisting in the updating of resources, website and educational material, translation, sub-committee help, and by hosting your own fundraising event.
- Website assistance – helping to scan the website for broken links, looking at ways to improve the website
- Attending events if they arise in your area
If you are interested in being added to the CASP volunteer list, please let us know your area, some general areas of interest and any skills you would like us to know about. When opportunities arise, we will send it out to yourself and other potential volunteers.
Email casp@suicideprevention.ca
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
PO Box 53082
RPO Rideau Centre
Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1C5
Phone: (613) 702-4446
Fax: (613) 209-4932
HINKING ABOUT SUICIDE?There are many crisis centres available 24 hours a day to talk to you.Find a crisis centre serving your area below. Please note – we are currently working on our Crisis Centre database which will include a search function. |
Crisis Centres Serving AlbertaIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Doctor Margaret Savage Crisis Centre St. Paul & District Crisis Centre Some Other Solutions Society for Crisis Prevention Salvation Army Community & Family Centres Distress Line of Southwestern Alberta (Canadian Mental Health Association) Distress Centre Calgary Wheatland Shelter Crisis Line (Community Crisis Society, Wheatland Shelter) Wood’s Home Crisis Support Centre, a program of The Support Network |
Crisis Centres Serving British ColumbiaIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Crisis Line Association of BC Canadian Mental Health Association Crisis Line People in Need Crisis Line (CMHA Vernon) Kelowna Crisis Line Crisis Prevention, Intervention & Information Centre for Northern BC Crisis & Counselling Program (Williams Lake) VictimLINK (Information Services Vancouver) S.A.F.E.R. (Suicide Attempt Follow-up, Education, & Research Vancouver Island Crisis Society Vancouver Child and Youth Mental Health Referral Province-Wide British Columbia, BC 310 Mental Health Support Line (province wide) North Island Crisis & Counselling Centre Society KUU-US Crisis Line Society East Kootenay Crisis Line Central Fraser Valley Telecare Crisis Line West Kootenay – Boundary Regional Crisis Line Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention Centre of BC Fraser Health Crisis Line c/o Options Community Service S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Chinese Help Lines CHIMO Services Crisis Intervention Program BC Southern Interior Crisis Line Network |
Crisis Centres Serving ManitobaIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Klinic Community Health Care Regional Health AuthoritiesWinnipeg Regional Health Authority Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authoritiy Prairie Mountain Regional Health Authority Northern Regional Health Authority Southern Health/Santé Sud |
Crisis Centres Serving New BrunswickIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Chimo Helpline (Chimo Helpline Inc.) |
Crisis Centres Serving Newfoundland & LabradorIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Newfoundland and Labrador Mental Health Crisis Line The Mental Health Crisis Centre provides 24 hour telephone based crisis intervention by professionally trained Crisis Interveners. This confidential service is available toll free across Newfoundland Labrador. This service is open to anyone in crisis; their caregivers or loved ones. The 24 hour crisis line is also available to health professionals on a consultative basis by phone. Crisis can include but is not limited to: Relationships with family or friends Mobile Crisis Response Team The Mobile Crisis Response (MCR) Team is comprised of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and social workers with significant experience in mental health who travel as a team to assist/intervene with mental health related crisis, directly in a person’s home or community. MCR is an extension to other emergency mental health services that currently exist in the St. John’s Metro area and can be accessed, as required, through the Mental Health Crisis Line, the Psychiatric Emergency Service at the Health Sciences Centre and the Psychiatric Assessment Unit at the Waterford hospital. |
Crisis Centres Serving Northwest TerritoriesIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. NWT Help Line |
Crisis Centres Serving Nova ScotiaIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team (MHMCT) SOS Cape Breton ~ Survivors of Suicide Contact person: Fran Morrison 902-565-7976 after 6pm and weekends. |
Crisis Centres Serving NunavutIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Awareness Centre Nunavuat Kamatsiaqtut Help Line |
Crisis Centres Serving OntarioIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Ontario Association of Distress Centres Ontario Suicide Prevention Network |
Crisis Centres Serving Prince Edward IslandIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Island Helpline |
Suicide Prevention Centres Serving QuébecIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Quebec National Crisis Line Centre de Prévention Suicide Arthabaska-Érable Bas-Saint-Laurent KRTB the Suicide Prevention Centre Saguenay / Lac-Saint-Jean Capitale-Nationale Suicide prevention centre Portneuf – Arc-en-ciel Charlevoix Suicide Prevention Centre Suicide Prevention Centre of Quebec Mauricie Suicide Prevention Centre-de-la-Mauricie/Mekinac Suicide Prevention Centre Les Deux Rives Estrie Montreal Outaouis Suicide Detour Abitibi-Témiscamingue Abitibi-Ouest Suicide Prevention Centre Phone line intervention for suicide prevention in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue (LITPSAT) Suicide Prevention Centre of Malartic Suicide Prevention Centre of Rouyn-Noranda Suicide Prevention Committee Senneterre Suicide Prevention Centre-de-Golden Valley Témiscamingue Suicide Prevention Centre North Shore Nord-du-Québec Gaspésie/Îles-de-la-Madeleine Chaudiere-Appalaches Listening Centre and Suicide Prevention Beauce-Etchemin Laval Lanaudière Laurentides Montérégie Suicide Prevention Centre of the Haute-Yamaska The Access Suicide Prevention Centre Pierre-de-Saurel Contact Richelieu-Yamaska Haut-Richelieu Suicide Prevention Centre The Turn, Crisis Centre and Suicide Prevention Point of Service Vaudreuil: Centre-du-Québec Suicide Prevention Centre Les Deux Rives Suicide Prevention Centre Athabasca-Érable |
Crisis Centres Serving SaskatchewanIf you are in crisis now please call any of the crisis line numbers listed below or dial the local emergency telephone number (often 911) in your area. You can also call if you are not in crisis, seeking additional information. If you come across information in this page which is incorrect, please contact us so we can update it. Mobile Crisis Service (Saskatoon) Southwest Crisis Services FHHR Mental Health & Addictions Intake Worker West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre North East Crisis Intervention Centre Hudson Bay & District Crisis Centre Prince Albert Mobile Crisis Unit Regina Mobile Crisis Services |
