Prince William looks at our mental health

These are shocking statistics, and one person who feels it doesn’t have to be that way, is our future king, Prince William.

An ardent champion of mental-health causes, the Duke of Cambridge has agreed to appear in this documentary, which was made by Gary Lineker’s production outfit Goalhanger Films and commissioned by the BBC to tie in with Mental Health Awareness Week (18-24 May).

Football, Prince William and Our Mental Health follows the royal as he meets players, fans and managers from all levels of the sport.

Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart talks about how he has been forced to cope with a very public decline in form, while ex-Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell opens up about his struggles with depression.

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard compares today’s attitudes to mental health with how they used to be when he was a young player.

And, as well as these stars, the programme will also shine a light on a group of bereaved fathers who have found their local football team to be a network of support in their time of hardship.

It is hoped that this programme will ‘start the biggest ever conversation on mental health, through football’, and it’s not the first time the Duke has combined his love for sport with his passion for mental health.

Last year, the BBC’s A Royal Team Talk saw William sit down with football stars Gareth Southgate, Peter Crouch, Thierry Henry, Danny Rose and Jermaine Jenas to discuss the issue.

Then, William urged footie fans to look after their mental health in a big-screen message played at Wembley Stadium before the Community Shield match between Liverpool and Manchester City in August.

William told supporters: “We all need to take care of our everyday mental fitness, and provide support to one another when we face setbacks, so we can be match fit for whatever lies ahead.”

The Duke added: “The FA and Heads Together have joined forces to launch Heads Up, showing the world of football that our mental health is just as important as our physical health, and that we all need to take care of our everyday mental fitness, and provide support to one another when we face setbacks, so we can be match fit for whatever lies ahead.”

William also encouraged fans to sing their anthems – Liverpool’s You’ll Never Walk Alone and City’s Blue Moon – both of which are about isolation and the importance of togetherness.

The last few months have been worrying for all of us, and recently William and his wife Kate have been working to highlight the toll the coronavirus crisis and isolation is taking, not just on our physical well being, but on our mental health too.

While this documentary was filmed before the Duke could have foreseen the current climate, the BBC’s week of programming could not have come at a more pertinent time.

BBC director general Tony Hall says: “Mental health is important – and during this pandemic more important than ever. Many people may be struggling alone, they may be worried about maintaining their own wellbeing or want to better equip themselves to help loved ones.

“That’s why bringing mental-health issues out into the open is so important.”

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