MEGHAN Markle has spoken out about online bullying and vowed she never wants anyone to feel the way she does, in a new interview with Prince Harry.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke to Jane Pauley on CBS’ Sunday Morning about their new project, to help support parents who have lost a child to online harm, launching today.
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It comes three years after the pair’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, in which Meghan revealed her own mental health struggles and suicidal thoughts.
The couple today launched The Parents Network, which connects families who have lost children to suicide after being victims of cyberbullying.
I haven’t really scratched the surface of my experience, but I don’t think I would ever want someone else to feel this way, or for someone else to make this kind of plan, or for someone to not believe it.
Meghan Markle
It also helps those who have been forced to say goodbye to their children after being sold drugs online.
Speaking in his CBS talk broadcast today, Harry said: “That’s one of the scariest things we’ve learned over the last 15 or 17 years of social media, and more recently, is that this could happen to anyone.
“We always talk about ‘back in the day,’ if your kids were under your roof, they were safe, you knew what they were doing.
“But now they could be in the next room using their tablets or phones, going down rabbit holes. And before you know it, 24 hours later, they could be taking their lives.”
Meghan then smiled as she talked about her children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.
The proud mother-of-two said: “Our children are little, three and five, they are amazing.
“But all you want to do as parents is protect them.
“And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know there’s a lot of work to be done and we’re so happy to be able to be part of the change for good.”
The duchess also opened up about her own struggles, after sharing her story in 2021 and telling Oprah in the past that she “didn’t want to be alive anymore.”
She responded, “When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey, certainly part of mine, is being able to really be open about it.
“I haven’t really scratched the surface of my experience, but I don’t think I would ever want someone else to feel this way, or for someone else to make these kinds of plans, or for someone to not believe.
“If me expressing what I’ve overcome is going to save someone or encourage someone in their life to really check in on how they’re doing, and not assume if it looks good, then it’s okay, then it’s worth it, I’ll take a hit because.”
“I think you have to start somewhere, I think the simplest thing anyone watching this can do is look through the lens of ‘what if it was my son or my daughter,’” Meghan added.
“My son or daughter who comes home happy, who I love, and one day, right under my roof, our entire life changes because of something that was completely out of our control.
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“If you look at this through a parent’s lens, there’s no other way to look at it other than trying to find a solution.”
Jane Pauley highlighted how when children ask for help, people expect there to be someone who can provide it.
Harry replied: “If you know how to help… At this point we have reached the stage where almost all parents need to be the first to respond.
“Even the best rescuers in the world would not be able to notice the signs of a possible suicide.
“That’s the terrifying part of it.”
The parent group will meet primarily online and help support parents who have lost children to suicide and online harm.
A CBS spokesperson said: “The Duke and Duchess spoke to ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ host Jane Pauley last week for an exclusive interview to host a program aimed at supporting parents whose children have been affected by harm. online.
“Jane also spoke with parents participating in the pilot program who described how it helped with the healing process.”
Harry and Meghan called for urgent change to “keep our children safe” on social media in February this year.
The Sussexes heard about their parents’ “heartache” during the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on children’s online safety.
The parents of two said that even the “best parents in the world cannot keep children safe from these platforms”.
In a statement published on the Archewell website, the couple said the issue transcended division and party lines and that this is “not the time to pass the buck.”
Alongside the message, the Duke and Duchess released a clip of their appearance at a World Mental Health Day discussion in New York on October 10 last year.
The pair said: “We applaud the bravery and determination of thousands of parents across the country whose advocacy resulted in this hearing.
“Over the past few years, we have spent time with many of these families, listening to their pain and their hopes for the urgent change that is needed in the online space.
“This is an issue that transcends divisions and party lines, as we saw today in the Senate hearing. The best parenting in the world cannot keep children safe from these platforms.”
They added: “As one parent shared with us, ‘If love could have saved them, all of our children would still be here.’
“This is not the time to transfer responsibility. It’s time to make the necessary changes at the source to keep our children safe.”
The Archewell Foundation said it is working with families to provide a support network for those dealing with grief or those whose children have serious mental health problems as a result of their exposure to harmful content online.
You are not alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It does not discriminate, affecting the lives of people in all corners of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality TV stars and football players.
It is the biggest cause of death for people under 35, deadlier than cancer and car accidents.
And men are three times more likely to take their own lives than women.
Yet it is rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and pay attention, now.
That’s why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our part to help save lives.
Let’s all promise to ask for help when we need it and listen to others… You are not alone.
If you, or someone you know, needs help dealing with mental health issues, the following organizations will provide support:
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
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