Harry's Mental Health Journey: From Depression to Healing
BBC News reports on Prince Harry's recent revelation about his struggle with mental health, specifically depression, after moving to Canada in 2019.
A Personal Account of Depression
The Duke of Sussex shared his experience of "slipping into depression for about two weeks" following his relocation to Canada. He originally left the UK to find some distance, but the transition proved challenging.
The Impact of Loss and Grief
Prince Harry discussed feeling emotionally numb after the death of his mother, Princess Diana. He expressed feelings of guilt and disloyalty for experiencing joy without her, which led to a prolonged period of emotional suppression.
"I'd spent so long emotionally numb... I felt like I had to be sad... to prove to her that I missed her." — Prince Harry
A Path to Healing and Understanding
In a video learning platform session, he opened up about his mental health journey with neuroscientist Mary-Frances O'Connor. She explained the brain's response to loss, highlighting the struggle of registering a loved one as "gone" rather than simply "lost."
"Your brain doesn't register your loved one as gone... it registers them as lost." — Mary-Frances O'Connor
A Rule for Connection and Support
Harry also shared his personal rule of never being away from his family for more than 10 days, emphasizing the importance of connection and support in navigating difficult times.
Return to Britain
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently returned to the UK with their children after six years in the US, a move that has sparked interest and questions regarding their relationship with the royal family.