Since her relationship with Prince Harry went public, Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, has been seen as a polarizing figure. Whether you like her or not, you have to admire her bravery in being so open about how the harassment and bullying she received on social media and in the British tabloids affected her mental health.
In the couple’s famous March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan revealed that amidst all the emotional turmoil and pressure of her new life in the royal family, at one point she felt like she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore.” It was shocking to hear someone in her position be so open about having thoughts of self harm.
During the most recent edition of “CBS Sunday Mornings,” Harry and Meghan discussed their Archewell Foundation’s new The Parents Network initiative, which is meant to help parents in the U.S., U.K. and Canada whose children have been traumatized by social media use. Jane Pauley noted how Meghan’s own experience related to the parents they’re supporting.
Though she was visibly uncomfortable with the personal subject, the Duchess explained that there is a “through-line” between her pain and what these young people deal with.
“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 be really open about it,” Meghan said. “I really haven’t scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way and I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed.”
“If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good so everything is OK, then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that.”
Harry and Meghan get a lot of criticism for their media exposure. But this is a situation where they’re shifting that attention to an important cause that more people should be talking about. If their involvement helps these parents find a network of people who understand their pain and can possibly prevent others from experiencing the same tragedy, then this is not the time for those takes.
Save them for something less emotional and personal.