Prince Williamplans to take a hands-on approach to mental health support.
William andKate Middletonstepped out on Tuesday tocelebrate six months since the launch of Shout, a service that offers free and confidential mental health support via text, and honor those staffing the service — which could soon include the royal dad himself.
“They are so lovely,” Nancy Lublin, co-founder and CEO ofCrisis Text Line, tells PEOPLE. “It’s amazing how much he knows about the service.”
“And he reiterated that his plan is to train and become a crisis counselor,” she added. “When you’re really busy, and/or really famous, it’s very hard to volunteer. It what’s nice about this — it’s totally anonymous. He could be the guy at the end of the phone.”
Right now, Lublin says, William is “trying to figure out how to work the training into his schedule. But he’s quite sincere about it and is certainly knowledgable.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton.Shutterstock
Around 600 conversations take place through the service each day. Three-quarters of those who contact Shout are under 25, and the most frequent subjects raised in those conversations are suicide (37%), depression (36%), relationships (29%), anxiety (31%), isolation (19%) and self-harm (17%), the service says.
Prince William and Kate Middleton attend Shout’s Crisis Volunteer celebration event.Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
According to Lublin,Prince Williamwas proud of the service being “one of those example of technology being good. We talk so much about technology being a source of pain.”
“And I said, ‘I like to describe it as a light saber — a light saber can be blue and the Jedis wield it for good things, or it can be red and be wielded for bad things,’ ” Lublin said. “The Duchess said she really liked that analogy.”
Shutterstock
Lublin also shared that Kate and William, both 37, have visited the office multiple times “quietly behind the scenes” — and they’re not the only royal visitors.Prince HarryandMeghan Marklehave also been to the office and met with volunteers.
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Crisis Text Line provides free support 24/7. Text STRENGTH to 741741 in the U.S. to be connected to a crisis counselor.
source: people.com
