Meghan Markle: 'It was worth talking about suicidal thoughts to help save others'

The Duchess of Sussex said it is worth voicing how she overcame her experience of suicidal thoughts, at the height of her crisis in the British monarchy, to save lives.

Meghan and Harry appeared in a pre-recorded interview for US programme, CBS Sunday Morning, about a new initiative supporting parents of children affected by online harm.

“I think when you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey, certainly part of mine, is being able to be really open about it,” the duchess said.

“And I haven’t really scraped the surface on my experience but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way.

THIS SUNDAY: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex talk with Jane Pauley this Sunday about a new program supporting parents of children affected by online harm. Jane also interviews parents in the pilot program about its impact on their healing. pic.twitter.com/YNRMA86I65
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) August 1, 2024

“And I would never want someone else to be making those sorts of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed.

“So, if me voicing what I have overcome, will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good so everything’s okay, then that’s worth it.

“I’ll take a hit for that.”

It comes three years after the duchess confessed she had contemplated taking her own life, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, saying: “I just didn’t want to be alive any more.”

Meghan was surprised by the question relating to her own experience of suicidal thoughts, redirecting her hand to Harry’s knee before answering the question.

Handout photo supplied by Harpo Productions showing the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their interview with Oprah Winfrey which was broadcast in the US on March 7. PA Media

She told host Jane Pauley: “I wasn’t expecting it, but I understand why you are because there is a through line.”

The televised interview, broadcast on Meghan’s 43rd birthday, marked the launch of The Parents’ Network, in association with the couple’s charitable Archewell Foundation.

The initiative seeks to provide parents with a safe and free-to-access support network to help those whose children have been harmed by social media, and is available for parents to join in the US, UK and Canada.

Meghan said about her eldest child, Archie, and daughter Lilibet: “Our kids are young, they are three and five, they’re amazing, but all you want to do as parents is protect them.

“And so, as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good.”

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (Yaroslav Sabitov/PA) PA Media

In a reference to how the mental wellbeing of young people can be affected by experiences online, Harry said: “At this point we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder, and even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.

“That is the terrifying piece of this.”

He said “one of the scariest things” is the fact it can “happen to absolutely anybody”.

“We always talk about the olden days, if your kids were under your roof, we knew what they were up to, at least they were safe.

“And now, they could be in the next room on a tablet or on a phone and going down these rabbit holes and before you know, within 24 hours they could be taking their life.”

Harry and Meghan have raised the issue numerous times since their move to America, and are also due to focus the spotlight on the topic during their official visit to Colombia following an invitation by vice president Francia Marquez.

The Sussexes’ trip to the South American nation will be their second official tour of the year after they visited Nigeria in May, taking part in a range of activities over three days.

While details of the couple’s itinerary have not been released by the Archewell Foundation, the vice president said they would “engage in several activities” related to safeguarding young people online and in physical spaces.

Help and support is available now if you need it. Details of services available can be found at stv.tv/advice

The Samaritans can be contacted any time, from any phone, free on 116 123, email at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch. Details of other services and more information can be found on the NHS website here.