During a brand new interview given by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for US TV, the Duchess of Sussex was asked about her experience of having suicidal thoughts and said she would never want anybody else to feel that way
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Meghan Markle opens up on suicidal thoughts in CBS interview
Meghan Markle has candidly opened up about her experience of suicidal thoughts in a new TV interview for an important reason.
Both she and Prince Harry sat down for a pre-recorded interview for US TV programme, CBS Sunday Morning, about a new initiative supporting parents of children affected by online harm. It was the couple’s first joint interview in more than three years since their bombshell chat with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021.
In that interview, Meghan admitted she had contemplated taking her own life, saying: “I just didn’t want to be alive any more.” And in the latest chat, she talked about how it is worth voicing how she overcame her experience of suicidal thoughts, whilst at the height of her crisis in the British monarchy, in a bid to help save lives.
She explained: “I think 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. And I haven’t really 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 sorts of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed. So, 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’s okay, then that’s worth it. I’ll take a hit for that.”
Meghan seemed surprised by the question relating to her own experience of suicidal thoughts, redirecting her hand to Harry’s knee before answering the question. She told host Jane Pauley: “I wasn’t expecting it, but I understand why you are because there is a through line.”
The televised interview, broadcast on Meghan’s 43rd birthday, marked the launch of The Parents’ Network, in association with the couple’s charitable Archewell Foundation. The initiative seeks to provide parents with a safe and free-to-access support network to help those whose children have been harmed by social media and is available for parents to join in the US, UK and Canada.
In reference to how the mental well-being of young people can be affected by experiences online, Harry said: “At this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder, and even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. That is the terrifying piece of this.”
He said “one of the scariest things” is the fact it can “happen to absolutely anybody”. “We always talk about the olden days, if your kids were under your roof, we knew what they were up to, at least they were safe. And now, they could be in the next room on a tablet or on a phone and going down these rabbit holes and before you know, within 24 hours they could be taking their life.”
Harry and Meghan have raised the issue numerous times since their move to America, and are also due to focus the spotlight on the topic during their official visit to Colombia following an invitation by Vice President Francia Marquez.
The Sussexes’ trip to the South American nation will be their second official tour of the year after they visited Nigeria in May, taking part in a range of activities over three days. While details of the couple’s itinerary have not been released by the Archewell Foundation, the vice president said they would “engage in several activities” related to safeguarding young people online and in physical spaces.
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or visit their site to find your local branch
