Prince William has described the high rate of male suicide in the United Kingdom as a “national catastrophe,” revealing his own struggles with understanding his emotions during a surprise appearance on BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks program on Wednesday.
The Prince of Wales emphasized the need for more male role models to openly discuss mental health, stating that normalizing these conversations is crucial to making them “second nature to us all.” He shared his personal approach to emotional processing, explaining, “I take a long time trying to understand my emotions and why I feel like I do, and I feel like that’s a really important process to do every now and again, to check in with yourself and work out why you’re feeling like you do.” He acknowledged that identifying the root cause of emotional distress isn’t always straightforward, but stressed the importance of recognizing that a mental health crisis is often temporary.
The discussion took place against a backdrop of concerning statistics. According to the Office for National Statistics, suicide was the leading cause of death among young people aged 20 to 34 in England and Wales in 2024.
Prince William’s advocacy for mental health awareness is longstanding, and his Royal Foundation has committed £1 million to the development of a National Suicide Prevention Network. He encouraged listeners to prioritize self-awareness, urging them to “learn to love yourself and understand yourself.” He also highlighted the value of support from mental health charities, describing them as “that little stepping stone” for individuals navigating challenging times.
The Prince offered a message of hope, suggesting that increased dialogue and education surrounding mental health could assist diminish the stigma associated with suicide. “And if we talk about that more, and educate people more, then hopefully the idea of suicide keeps being pushed further and further away. Because you know that tomorrow, you might wake up and you might feel incredibly different,” he said.
The panel discussion also included rapper Professor Green, known for his own advocacy on mental health issues and his previous BBC documentary, Suicide and Me, which detailed his experience with the loss of his father to suicide. Professor Green underscored the importance of these conversations, stating, “I’ve got a little boy and I hate to believe of him growing up in a world where he doesn’t have a circle of friends that he knows he can travel to, or services that he knows he can access if in a time of need.”
Professor Green further emphasized the significance of Prince William’s involvement, noting that the Prince’s openness is unexpected and impactful. “But he’s obviously gone through his own life of suffering and experience and things he’s seen first-hand,” he said. “And I just think it enables us to shine such a light on something that people will otherwise just avoid.”
When asked about his own children, Prince William jokingly remarked, “Sometimes too much. I get all the details, which I love; it’s amazing.” The full discussion aired on Radio 1’s Life Hacks at 8pm on Wednesday.
