Prince Harry and Meghan launch Parents' Network to fight cyberbullying
The Duke and the Duchess are creating a support network for parents whose children are victims of online hate...
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are playing their part in the fight against cyberbullying.
The royal couple, who themselves have been victims of online hate, have launched an initiative to help parents whose children are affected by bullying or have suffered heartbreaking losses as a result of social media hate.
The initiative, 'The Parents' Network', was launched on Sunday in association with the Archwell Foundation.
"We are The Parents Network. A group of parents who have first-hand knowledge of the pain and destruction caused by social media use. Each of us have been through something no parent should ever have to experience, and our mission is to prevent anyone else from suffering the way we have," the Archwell website states.
Harry and Meghan sat down for an interview with 'CBS Sunday Morning' to talk about their new project and their mental health journeys.
Meghan opened up about her suicidal thoughts during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021. The pressure of being a royal, coupled with the constant bullying from the British press, left her feeling down.
The Duchess of Sussex, who turned 43 on Sunday, told Oprah that her thoughts went to a dark place.
“I just didn’t want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. And I remember how he [Harry] just cradled me,” she said then.
READ MORE HERE: "Glad I am alive" - Five bombshells from Meghan and Harry's interview
Speaking to 'CBS Sunday Morning' anchor Jane Pauley, Meghan says she doesn't want anyone to feel the way she did.
"When you've been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it. I really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way and I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed."
THIS SUNDAY: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex talk with Jane Pauley this Sunday about a new program supporting parents of children affected by online harm. Jane also interviews parents in the pilot program about its impact on their healing. pic.twitter.com/YNRMA86I65
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) August 1, 2024
MORE FROM EAST COAST RADIO:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have two children together - Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, say cyberbullying is especially tough on the younger generation.
Meghan says there is much work to be done to protect children.
"Our kids are young; they're three and five. They're amazing. But all you want to do as parents is protect them. And so, as we can see what's happening in the online space, we know that there's a lot of work to be done there, and we're just happy to be able to be a part of change for good," Meghan told Jane.
Harry says things are getting so bad that parents need to know how to help their children in case the worst happens.
"At this point, we've got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder. And even the best first responders in the world wouldn't be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. Like, that is the terrifying piece of this."
ALSO READ: Prince Harry teams up with Ed Sheeran for World Mental Health Day
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
- Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
- Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606
- Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
Main image credit: CBS Sunday Morning/ YouTube