Prince Harry's first major project since royal exit is a mental health tool for military personnel
Although Prince Harry has mostly been restricted to his Los Angeles home with his wife, Meghan Markle, and son, Archie, due to the coronavirus pandemic, after officially quitting the royal family last month, it has not deterred him from spearheading initiatives he truly believes in and the latest one has been three years in the making.
Being a former soldier of the British Armed Forces, the Duke of Sussex understands the importance of maintaining mental health among the military. With that view in mind, he appeared in a video on HeadFIT.org, which offers round-the-clock access to self-help tools to enhance mood, drive, and confidence for men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting their country.
"We need you to be able to access that 10 or 15 percent, something which can only be attained when you adopt a regular routine for training the mind and the body as a single unit. I know this to be true. It works for me," he said in the video.
Although the current project was supposed to be unveiled by the Queens's grandson in June, its launch was brought forward in the light of the additional challenges that the soldiers on the front line have to deal with amid today's widespread health crisis.
"Today, when we talk about fitness, we don't just mean how fast you can run or how much weight you can carry," Harry says in the footage. "This is about mental fitness, strength, and resilience, not just while wearing a uniform, but for the rest of your life. If you want to be truly fit, strong and healthy, you need to train your mind and body as one. Some people run, others swim, cycle or lift weights in order to be physically fit. But what do you do to stay mentally fit? Think about what you can do to unlock your potential, and to perform at the highest level."
The project in question was developed with a collaboration with the Royal Foundation's Heads Together campaign, the Ministry of Defence, and King's College London, along with clinical advice from psychologist Dr. Vanessa Moulton.
A year before Harry and Meghan made the decision to step down as senior members of the monarchy, they left the joint Royal Foundation with Prince William and Kate Middleton. However, it was understood at the time that Heads Together would collaborate with the organization in the future.
Harry's military appointments, including his position as Captain-General of the Royal Marines, have been put on hold for the upcoming year. Meanwhile, he stressed the importance of working to keep mental health issues at bay rather than treating them when they arise.
"I've long believed the military community should lead the way for the rest of society. For too long we have been waiting for problems to arise and then reacting to them. HeadFIT is a proactive approach to mental fitness, focusing on our own potential to increase our performance, using proven methods in sport science. This is about optimization of self. This is about being the best you can be," he said.
The importance of aiding troops with their mental health during the coronavirus crisis has also been emphasized by the Defence People and Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer. "We train our armed forces to be both physically fit and mentally fit," he said. "And right now mental resilience has never been more important as our defense community works tirelessly to support the UK's public services during the coronavirus pandemic."