Duke Of Cambridge Speaks Out About Nation’s Attitude To Mental Health
The Duke of Cambridge has spoken out about the nation's attitude to mental health, saying it was "sad'' that "society does not seem to listen enough'' to those with problems.
William's comment came as he and Kate sat down with a group of young people in Dundee who spoke openly about their battles with mental health issues and their work helping others.
In recent weeks the royal couple have been focusing their public work on promoting the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and teenagers and visited Dundee for the first time to learn more about how the area is dealing with the issue.
The visit began on a lighter note with the Duke and Duchess spending last night at the nearby town of St Andrews where they went to university, met and fell in love more than a decade ago.
They stayed at The Old Course Hotel, an exclusive resort and spa overlooking one of the world's famous golf courses.
William and Kate's Dundee visit was their first official trip to the city and they met the young mental health advocates at the city's Rep theatre where they went on a brief walkabout outside.
The Duchess confessed to one well-wisher in the crowds that she was not thrilled by the Duke riding his powerful motorbike.
Fearghas Simpson, 28, a recruitment executive from Ayr, asked Kate if William was still riding his motorbike.
He said she replied: "He's still riding it. It always fills me with horror when he goes out on it - I'm terrified. Hopefully, I'm going to keep George off it.''
At the theatre the Cambridges joined a group of young volunteers with See Me, a Scotland-wide initiative to end mental health stigma, who discussed theirexperiences of the issue and how they were helping others.
In what became a fact finding discussion William asked the young people to describe the moment when they turned the corner in their battles.
One young man Jayson McSwiggan, 22, told about the moving moment a counsellor made a break through and got him to open up about his mental health issues.
He said she told him to step back and look at his behaviour: "I knew she genuinely cared about my safety and just wanted me to get better and progress.
"When she turned round and said that to me I was like 'I can talk to you know'. I spoke so much - I wouldn't be here today if I didn't have that conversation.'' During the discussions William told the group of eight young people and senior staff from See Me: "It seems to me sad that society does not seem to listen enough, all the suggestions here and all the evidence you're giving us is very much that society doesn't seem to listen. "And yet it's the most basic fundamental point of families and communities, whatever to listen to each other.
"And so I think what this mental health piece will do, will be able to really raise everyone's awareness, that we should just stop and listen and take a note of what's around us and those around us and pay more attention.
"And hopefully that will help more people come forward."
The second engagement of the royal couple's visit took them to The Corner, an institution which runs a drop-in centre for teenagers wanting advice on issues like contraception or exam stress, and peer-led and outreach services.
They joined an anti-bullying workshop, organised by Scotland's anti-bullying service RespectMe, which included a video around the dangers of social media.
During their discussion William asked whether they thought social media companies did enough to prevent bullying online and he was told they feared that the introduction of a dislike button on Facebook could be a disaster.
Speaking with members of a regional organisation called Body Matters, the Prince said: "I don't know why there are legal highs.
"We have been called out when people are having fits or cardiac arrests after taking them.''
Addiction youth worker Alain Saum said she now does outreach work at all nine of the city's high schools because the problem is so widespread.
"It is a big concern in Dundee. People who wouldn't normally do drugs take them because of the word legal,'' she said. "And a small packet might contain 50 doses but people take it all at once."
William and Kate later met young leaders working on ways to improve mental health and they joined a discussion organised by Young Scotland In Mind.
The meeting was held in The Shore in Dundee, next door to The Corner.
They were greeted by a row of mental health workers when they entered the building and William came to the rescue as one woman slipped and fell to the ground.
As he helped her up, he told her: "Don't worry, I've done it many times.''
The meeting was chaired by Billy Watson, chief executive of the Scottish Association for Mental Health, and he praised the Duke and Duchess for their support. He said: "They were well informed and seemed very genuine and passionate in their concern for this cause. "I think they came up with some thoughts and ideas that were certainly relevant and useful and they engaged with everyone really warmly. "This is a consistent thing for the Duke and Duchess and something that they continue to come back to. We want this to be a catalyst for something that will continue long term and that seemed to be the same for our royal guests.''
The couple later visited explorer Captain Scott's ship RRS (Royal ResearchShip) Discovery, which was built in Dundee and carried him - and a young Ernest Shackleton - on their first expedition to Antarctica in 1901.
They were greeted by primary five pupils from Dunblane Primary School who were on a school trip at the attraction.
Kate was presented with a posey, before the royal couple made their way onboard.
They chatted with young sea scouts before taking the helm and enjoying views across the quay.
Dundee's waterfront is currently undergoing a £1 billion regeneration.
As William remarked on being "excited'' to see the finished development, he leaned over the side of the ship, and jokingly called to the builders: "Get back to work you lot.''
They departed to cheers from the crowd, as the school pupils waved flags.
Dunblane Primary teacher Claire Marshall said: "It was such a happy coincidence that we were on the school visit today.
"The children were thrilled to see William and Kate.''