In a candid interview on CBS Sunday Morning, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, shared personal insights about her past struggles with suicidal thoughts and emphasized her commitment to improving online safety for children.
The interview, which aired on Meghan’s 43rd birthday, featured her and Prince Harry discussing their latest project, The Parents Network, launched through their Archewell Foundation. This initiative aims to support parents dealing with the effects of social media-related trauma on their children. Now available in the U.S., U.K., and Canada after a two-year pilot program, The Parents Network addresses the growing concern over online bullying and its impact on young people.
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Meghan reflected on her 2021 revelation to Oprah Winfrey about her mental health struggles, describing a period when she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore.” She stressed the importance of being open about such experiences as part of the healing process, stating, “I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way… If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them, then that’s worth it.”
Meghan and Prince Harry, parents to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, also discussed their efforts to shield their children from harmful online content. Meghan expressed a strong desire to protect their young family from the negative impacts of social media, emphasizing the need for proactive measures in the digital space. Prince Harry highlighted the challenge of recognizing signs of distress and the importance of parental vigilance, stating, “Almost every parent needs to be a first responder. Even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.”
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The Parents Network’s “No Child Lost to Social Media” campaign aligns with the Archewell Foundation’s ongoing mission to provide a supportive community for families affected by online harassment. This initiative was a key focus of the Foundation’s first in-person event, held in New York City on World Mental Health Day in October 2023. The event aimed to address the urgency of online safety through discussions with families who have experienced loss due to social media.