Princes and Duchess of Cambridge put their Heads Together to shatter stigma of mental illness

Royals enlist celebrities to talk openly about depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for new campaign

Prince William, Kate Middleton and Prince Harry
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry launch new mental health campaign Heads Together
(Image credit: Nicky J Sims / Getty)

Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry have enlisted the help of celebrities including rapper Professor Green and comedian Ruby Wax to address the stigma around mental illness.

The high profile figures discuss their personal battles with depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts in a series of ten videos to promote the royals' campaign Heads Together.

Wax is shown talking to her husband, director Ed Bye, about the moment she revealed she had a mental illness, while Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former press secretary, discusses his nervous breakdown with his wife Fiona.

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Meanwhile Green joins former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff to discuss their own mental health battles, reports ITV News.

Flintoff says: "The hardest thing for me initially was talking. I'm not a big talker. I'm from the north of England, from a working-class family, we don't talk about our feelings."

Attitudes towards mental health were at a "tipping point," said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Harry.

They added: "Since we launched Heads Together last May, we have seen time and time again that shattering stigma on mental health starts with simple conversations.

"When you realise that mental health problems affect your friends, neighbours, children and spouses, the walls of judgment and prejudice around these issues begin to fall.

"And we all know that you cannot resolve a mental health issue by staying silent."

More than 700 runners will raise money for the Heads Together campaign in this year's London Marathon.

Last week, the Duchess spoke "frankly about the lack of confidence she suffered after becoming a new mother," reports the Daily Telegraph.

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