Prince Harry unveils a new initiative that he has been working on for almost three years, since before he married Meghan Markle. He has set up a platform to support the military veterans who are dealing with everyday stress.
Called HeadFIT, the latest initiative was supposed to be unveiled in June, per The Independent. However, Prince Harry decided to move up the launch to help service personnel who may be struggling during the coronavirus pandemic.
"HeadFIT is a proactive approach to mental fitness, focusing on our own potential to increase our performance, using proven methods in sport science," Prince Harry said in a statement. "Think about what you can do to unlock your potential and to perform at the highest level."
On its official website, users may find tools to help manage their mental health, such as breathing exercises, body posture improvement and relaxation. All these tools are designed for military personnel, who can integrate the techniques in their everyday activities.
"This is about building resilience that will match that of most world class athletes and prepare you for everyday stress," the Duke of Sussex added in his statement. "To be HeadFIT, is to be at your peak performance."
Prince Harry initially worked on HeadFIT with The Royal Foundation, which has a Heads Together mental health campaign managed by Prince William and Kate Middleton. The royal also tapped the help of the Ministry of Defense and London's King's College in planning the platform.
The initiative, however, was side tracked after Prince Harry decided to establish his own foundation and separate his work from Prince William. It is understood, however, that HeadFIT and Heads Together will be collaborating on future projects.
The Duke of Sussex was a military serviceman for 10 years and was stationed in Afghanistan for two tours of duty. Thus, he understands the stigma around military mental health, which has been part of its advocacy.
Earlier, Prince Harry and Meghan confirmed that they will also be launching a new foundation called Archewell. But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are waiting for the right timing since people's focus these days is in helping out during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan, who are currently isolating in Los Angeles, are set to celebrate the first birthday of their son, Archie Harrison. The baby is turning one year old on May 6 but his parents are ditching a huge party and large gathering to comply with the government's safety measures against the coronavirus.
