Harry and Meghan made a profound impact on World Mental Health Day by hosting an emotional panel of parents in New York City. The event was a part of their Archewell Foundation’s first in-person gathering, aimed at providing a platform for parents navigating the complex challenges of mental health in today’s digital age.
The summit featured parents who had experienced tragic losses connected to their child’s social media usage. Harry and Meghan had been quietly working with these parents behind the scenes, forging connections and providing support to a community bound by shared experiences.
Below, the couple are greeted on stage by Carson Daly who moderated the event.
Onstage, Prince Harry expressed his gratitude to the parents who had joined them for the event. He acknowledged the difficulty of their journey and the significance of their presence. Meghan, too, shared her sentiments, recounting a year of working with these families, which had been both heart-wrenching and inspiring.
After taking the stage, Harry had this to say —
I can’t start without thanking all the parents, the mothers and fathers for being with us physically today, but also being on this journey with us for the last year, creating this community of shared experience.”
“We know it’s not easy for you guys to be here so thank you very much,” he continued.
The couple’s involvement in this summit, as parents themselves to young Archie and Lilibet, demonstrated their commitment to turning pain into purpose. They aimed to provide support and a platform for these parents to come together, heal, grieve, and collectively focus on finding solutions to prevent other families from enduring similar hardships.
Meghan then said —
A year ago we met some of the families, and at the time, it was impossible not to be in tears hearing their stories because it’s just that devastating.
As parents, though our kids are really young, 2 1/2 and 4 1/2, but social media isn’t going away and by design, there was an entry post that was supposed to be positive and create community but something has devolved and there’s no way to hear that and not try to help these families have their stories be heard.”
Harry added —
I think for us, for myself and my wife, with kids growing up in a digital age, the priority here is to again turn pain into purpose and provide as much support as well as a spotlight and a platform for these parents to come together, to heal, to grieve and to also collectively focus on solutions so that no other family anywhere has to go through what they’ve been through.”
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy joined Meghan and Harry on stage to emphasize the importance of their work in a discussion moderated by Carson Daly. Together, they discussed the challenges of keeping kids off social media at a young age and the significance of parental collaboration in achieving this goal.
More from People — At the end of the discussion, Carson turned to Meghan and asked —
As a mom of two young kids, after the stories that we heard today from these families that you’ve gotten to know over the past year and the work that Archewell is doing in this space, where is this on the priority list, not as a kick-ass woman, but as a mom? Excuse my French!”
Meghan’s reply —
Being a mom is the most important thing in my entire life — outside, of course, being a wife to this one,” she said, gesturing to Harry. “But I will say I feel fortunate that our children are at an age, again quite young, so this isn’t in our immediate future, but I also feel frightened at how it’s continuing to change and this will be in front of us.”
She went on —
They say being a parent, the days are long but the years are short, so it worries me, but I’m also given a lot of hope and energy by the progress we’ve made in the past year being able to have these incredible parents, these survivors of these experiences, share their stories and the more information gathering we’re able to do, the more we can move the needle a little bit,” she continued.
“Everyone is affected by the online world and social media. we all just want to feel safe. I’m confident that with more ears and awareness and visibility of what is really happening, we can make some significant change together.”
Below, a clip from today’s panel via Hollywood Reporter —
Prince Harry thanks the families that attended Project Healthy Minds’ second-annual World Mental Health Day Festival at Hudson Yards in New York City today pic.twitter.com/HmN8XFpqaE
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 10, 2023
The summit was part of Project Healthy Minds’ World Mental Health Day Festival —
It’s World Mental Health Day! Follow along with us as we take over @_HudsonYardsNYC for the second annual WMHD Festival. With thoughtful programming and events, we share our mission to end the stigma of mental health and spread accessible resources to all. pic.twitter.com/quLDRgzAtA
— Project Healthy Minds (@ProjHealthyMind) October 10, 2023
In addition to the summit, earlier in the day, Harry and Meghan visited a Brooklyn-based school that prepares young adults from underestimated backgrounds for careers in the tech field. Their visit highlighted their tireless efforts to create a safer online environment, underscoring their unwavering commitment to mental health and well-being for all.
See our post from earlier today here.
What Meghan Wore has donated to Project Mental Health to mark World Mental Health Day. If you would like to donate please see the link to their site here.
Now our look at what Meghan wore for this afternoon’s event.
The Duchess wore separates from Altuzarra – the Wilding Off-shoulder Virgin Wool Blazer In Ivory, $895 (not available).
The trousers are the Altuzarra Bendix Wide-Leg Pants, $1195 NOW $358.49 at Saks.
She wore her Aquazzura Purist 105 leather pumps in beige/nude, $658.
Meghan’s earrings are her Sarah Hendler bespoke ‘Spear’ dangle stud earrings in Emerald and Sapphires. She first wore the earrings in April 2022 at the Invictus Games.
Her necklace is from Logon Hollowell — the ‘Queen’ emerald cut emerald cuban choker, $ 4,100.
One last surprise – Archewell Foundation gave out burlap tote bags today!
The jacket looks nice when she’s sitting down but it’s rather inappropriate for the event. In the picture where she’s standing, the buttons are pulling and it looks awkward. I agree with the others, a simple sweater or dress would have been better.
People talking about appropriateness are still in royal vibes in their minds. Meghan is not there. Shoulders are not inappropriate.
Note: Admin Edit
The blazer comes across as a formal/evening piece and not a professional blazer. I love the emerald jewelry but feel this look would have been best as a simple blazer and trousers instead of putting the fashion forward.
I think the outfit looks better when she’s sat down. I think I with most, maybe a tad too glam for this event, but would be perfect (with slimmer fitting pants!) for a night out. But she looks beautiful as usual, and this boat-neck style suits her
I first thought this was a repeat of the white outfit she wore at the RFK Ripple of Hope awards since the strapless top is so similar. I didn’t love that look on her, it was okay. The pants are great, I just wish she had worn another top. The bandage/strapless look is not very flattering on her and she has so many great blouses in her closet.
An influencer I follow who advocates in the mental health space attended the summit, she had pictures of Harry, Meghan, and Carson Daly on her stories on Instagram. Her name is Kate Speer, she used to work for the Dogist (he let go all his staff earlier this year and I know it’s been hard for her to recover from this). She has two service dogs (one semi retired) and was hospitalized in psychiatric wards several times. I know she struggles every day and her account can be a lot as she has very complex mental health issues. I was so happy to see she had been chosen to go to the World Mental Health Forum. Mental health in the digital space is so important, especially for Generation Z.
She is stunning as always but I agree with others I thought it was a little too glamorous for an audience of parents who have lost children due to the mental health consequences of online bullying.
Unrelated – I would love to know her skincare regime! She is glowing lately.
She looks lovely but it’s an odd choice for this event. Just a simple blouse instead.
The white outfit looks nice, but the pants are too wide. The top half is boxy, just something not quite right about the overall look. The color scheme doesn’t do the outfit either, the ensemble fades into the chair.
Personally I don’t feel this outfit was appropriate for this event, considering the topic for this mental health event. going for r a night out yes, but this is way too dressy.
I do like this outfit. She has great shoulders and should show them off. I do question the appropriateness of wearing this suit to a panel discussion on mental health. I love the earrings.
Dana, I completely agree with you. I find that she often over dresses.
The last 2 outfits are wonderful. This white pantsuit is my favorite of the last 3 posts. I love that they are working quietly behind the scenes, to disprove their critics, and produce good work. keep going…..
As someone who has suffered with mental illness in the past I appreciate the focus being brought by H&M (as well as W&C across the pond). It can make life unbearable if you are suffering and have no support whether from family or friends or a hotline to call. So thankful for these initiatives.
I like what Meghan is wearing and I think she looks beautiful but she looks like she should be out on the town on a Saturday evening, not at a function for mental health. A light sweater or a blouse with the pants would have been more in line with the environment. Also, her clothes match the chair she’s sitting in so it looks like she’s wearing the chair. An odd choice considering she had to know what color the chair was going to be. She’s way too detail oriented to not know.
Agree.
Absolutely stunning.