The Duchess of Sussex has spoken about social media during a meeting with mental health advocates at a beachside cafe in Wellington, New Zealand.
The Duchess, who attended the event alongside the Duke of Sussex, spoke about the impact social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram have on youth in regards to unrealistic images.
“Young people find it so difficult. You see photos on social media, and you don’t know whether she’s born with it or maybe it’s a filter.
“Your judgement of your sense of self-worth becomes really skewed when it’s all based on likes.”
@KensingtonRoyal/Twitter
The Duke of Sussex also spoke on the issue remarking, “Issues stemming from social media and gaming are a major problem for young people in the UK — and globally. Fingers are often pointed at the parents, but that’s not always fair as they too need to be educated about these things.”
At Maranui Café, Their Royal Highnesses spoke to young New Zealanders who are supporting others regarding mental health. The royals were able to speak to Jazz Thornton and Gen Mora who founded Voices of Hope – which “launched to provide hope for those struggling with mental health issues,” according to Kensington Palace.
Arriving around 10 am, the Duke and Duchess were shown around by Lucia Kennedy, founder of Luminary Legacies. They spoke to various mental health advocates at different tables throughout their stay with His Royal Highnesses opening up about his own mental health struggles.
“It took me about three or four years to start the journey, and then after that, you still have to find the right people to speak to,” he said.
The Duke and Duchess were able to discuss mental health topics with volunteers and staff from Lifeline Aotearoa. Lifeline Aotearoa is a 53-year-old organisation that offers free community helplines and text message support to all New Zealanders.
Lifeline’s Clinical Manager, Renee Matthews, told Their Royal Highnesses about their work, “They’re able to call from a private number if they want and it’s a place they can open up and speak freely, without judgement.”
The Duchess then added, “What’s great about this is that it’s done without judgement, it’s a safe place for people that just need to talk.”
The Duke also remarked, “It’s a real topic that doesn’t just need to be openly discussed amongst the younger generation but also parents.”
Harry and Meghan were also presented with baby onesies from Lifeline and other goodies before the engagement concluded.
The Duchess of Sussex had an aide return to the café after they had left to request that the remaining pastries on each table be given to the children from Houghton Valley School that the royals had met earlier outside the building.
