The Prime Minister Theresa May has praised Prince Harry after he revealed that he has been struggling with his mental health following the death of his mother 20 years ago.
Mrs May said that the young royal being open about his mental state is a “really important moment” for the country.
Speaking to ITV News, Number 10 said that they back the 32-year-old’s decision to speak publicly about the trauma he suffered following Diana, Princess of Wales’s death in 1997.
Other politicians and public figures have been inspired by Prince Harry’s revelations, and have opened up about some of the struggles they have been facing.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said: “Big big respect to Prince Harry for opening up about his mental health and grief.
“Losing a parent so young is v.tough. I lost my Dad at 13 -doing so in the public eye wld have been harder still.”
SNP MP John Nicolson said: “Good for Prince Harry. Having lost my dad as a young teenager I can relate to what he says about locking away grief.”
Journalist and ITV Political Editor Robert Peston, whose wife died in 2012, tweeted: “Great that Prince Harry says counselled for grief & imminent breakdown. Hope lessens stigma of seeking help.”
Prince Harry has revealed that he sought counselling in the years after his late mother’s death in order to come to terms with his loss.
Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Prince Harry said that he underwent two years of ‘chaos’ in his twenties when he came close to a breakdown on a number of occasions.
He said that despite his brother, Prince William, urging Harry to get help, he “shut down all of his emotions” for almost twenty years after Diana, Princess of Wales’s death.
The fifth-in-line to the throne has made the disclosures as part of an effort to encourage people to speak out about their mental health, and any problems they may have.
In the Telegraph’s interview, the Prince said that he was “on the verge of punching someone” at the point when he finally sought help at the age of 28.
I have every respect and a lot of spiritual love for Prince Harry and Prince Phillip for the loss of their natural mother when they were so young. Everyone grieves just as individual as their very personalities. I would like to tell Prince Harry it’s ok to do that. If he wants to talk about it that’s great. If he does not his privacy should be respected. His mission to advance the education and establishing good mental health is quite a wonderful task