Britain's Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, accompanied by the Chief Executive of the London Ambulance Service, Garrett Emmerson talk with staff during a visit to the London Ambulance Service 111 control room in Croydon, Britain March 19, 2020. Picture taken March 19, 2020. (Photo: Kensington Palace/Handout via REUTERS)
Prince William and Kate Middleton are launching their coronavirus program under the Royal Foundation. They have created a partnership with several charities, whose focus is on mental health, to be part of their new initiative called Our Frontline.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed on Instagram that they tapped into partners like Shout U.K., Hospice U.K., Samaritans and Minds to assist healthcare workers in the U.K. who may be experiencing mental health issues. These organizations under the Our Frontline umbrella are expected to bring support, whether immediate or long-term, to those who are providing their expert services for the benefit of the public.
The royal couple said that Our Frontline will be manned by trained volunteers that these frontliners may call or text 24/7 if they are feeling overwhelmed by what's happening around them. The initiative will also provide online resources, toolkits and expert advice if they are experiencing challenges and stress due to their work.
"Every day they confront traumatic situations at the same time as having to contend with their own worries about the risks to themselves and their families," Prince William said. The Duke of Cambridge promised that he and his wife will do all they can to support the frontliners.
Sources said via People that Prince William and Kate decided to start this initiative after video conferencing with some mental health professionals in the past few weeks. They listened to their problems and issues, as well as heard what they really needed.
In the coming days, Prince William will also take part in a roundtable discussion involving frontliners and mental health experts. The Duke of Cambridge said that this is their priority for the next few months ahead as the public health crisis continues.
Prince William used to work as a frontliner as an air ambulance pilot before he took in his royal duties. He has opened up about the mental pressures of his job, especially when it came to helping children during emergency situations.
He said in one interview that witnessing this tipped him "over the edge" and filled him with "enormous sadness." To help cope with the situation, Prince William said that he had his crew and they often talked about their experiences together.
Prince William and Kate are working on their initiatives while staying in lockdown at their home in Anmer Hall in Norfolk with their children. The Cambridge family are closely following the social distancing and limited movement guidelines imposed by the government to slow down the spread of the virus.
