Prince William Reveals He Has Been Secretly Volunteering for U.K. Crisis Text Line
Editor's Note
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What happened: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and a vocal supporter of mental health initiatives, recently divulged that he has been volunteering with Shout. Launched in May 2019, Shout is the first crisis text line of its kind in the United Kingdom. Both the Prince and Princess Kate have played a role in not only its establishment, but also in its vital mental health services.
In addition to Prince William’s work, the Princess has participated in “check in and chat” calls from those who are in COVID-19 isolation or vulnerable as part of the Royal Voluntary Service’s National Health Service Volunteer Responders program.
I’m going to share a little secret with you guys, I’m actually on the platform volunteering. — Prince William, CNN
Last month The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined a zoom call to thank our volunteers for the support they've given to thousands of people in crisis. The Duke revealed that he is also one of our community of 2,000 volunteers who are trained to support anyone in crisis, anytime. pic.twitter.com/A3WUGndzDx
— Shout 85258 (@GiveUsAShout) June 5, 2020
The frontlines: The need for the U.K. initiative underscores a growing trend of worsening mental health during the pandemic, especially for those isolating and whose work has been deemed “non-essential.”
- One study suggested 46% of those in the U.K. afraid for their livelihoods during the pandemic said that they were more now depressed or experienced a lower quality of life
- Current anxiety and depression scores are higher than normal, with researchers noting depression and anxiety levels doubled immediately following the U.K.’s March 23 lockdown
- Women have slightly more anxiety during the pandemic than men, with one study indicating that during the first week of lockdown, 25% of women compared to 18% of men reported significant signs of anxiety
A Mighty voice: Our contributor, Kyle Alexander, shared the deleterious impacts of COVID-19 on his mental health: “My depression has slowly gotten worse over the weeks. Then my anxiety kicks in because I panic about not doing anything, and so the vicious cycle continues.” You can submit your first person story, too.
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From Our Community:
Add your voice: Join The Mighty’s Coronavirus group by downloading our app or comment below.
Other things to know: If you’re struggling with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, these other Mighty articles may help:
- Tips for Helping Children Cope With Anxiety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- How I’m Managing My Anxiety and Parenting During COVID-19
- What to Do If COVID-19 Information Is Affecting Your Anxiety
More helpful resources: Read a hands-on guide to staying calm during a period of stress such as this one from Love Is Louder.
Header image screenshot via Shout
I am a neurodivergent disability journalist and mental health advocate, whose writing occupies the intersection of current affairs, disability and mental illness, and cultural issues. I host the weekly workshop, "Navigating PTSD." My academic training is in Anthropology; I have a Bachelor's of Arts from Reed College in Portland, Oregon. My hobbies include politics, puppetry, and watching baseball. Fun factoid: I love squirrels! NB: I only accept chats from people whose names I recognize.
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