Prince Harry has told how his new mental health television series will show examples of 鈥渢he human spirit fighting back from the darkest places鈥� and how he hopes it will save lives.
The Duke of Sussex revealed and his motivation for being involved in it, in an interview with The Telegraph鈥檚 Bryony Gordon.
He hopes the programme, which will be broadcast next year, will break down the stigma and shame surrounding mental illness.
It was in an interview for a podcast with Bryony two years ago that he first revealed his own mental health struggles and how counselling had helped after the death of his mother.
Impact
He told Bryony this week: 鈥淭he response made me realise what an impact sharing my story could have, and what an impact other stories can have for so many who are suffering silently.
鈥淚f the viewers can relate to the pain and perhaps the experience, then it could save lives, as we will focus on prevention and positive outcomes.鈥澛�
Alongside Oprah Winfrey, the Duke is co-creator and co-executive producer of the series, which will be broadcast on the new Apple TV+ streaming service.
Responsibility
He added: 鈥淲e are assembling subject matter experts as an advisory board to the series, the main reason being we appreciate this is a multi-faceted subject 鈥� and we have a huge responsibility to get this right.聽
鈥淚n this process, I鈥檝e already learned just how many studies have been done, and how much information is out there which isn鈥檛 reaching the general public. The facts and science exist, and we deserve to know it all.鈥澛�
The creative team behind the project was announced this week.
It includes Kahane Cooperman, who produced聽The Daily Show with John Stewart聽in America.
Episodes will be directed and produced by well-known and highly-regarded film-makers including Asif Kapadia, who directed award-winning documentaries Amy and Senna.
Big club
The Duke also stressed in his interview how mental health is such an important subject in all his work.
鈥淚t [mental health] is linked into so many different things鈥� the experience I have had is that once you start talking about it you suddenly realise you鈥檙e actually part of quite a big club.鈥澛�
He added: 鈥淲hat I have learned and I continue to learn in the space of mental health, mental illness and self-awareness is that all roads lead back to our mental well-being, how we look after ourselves and each other.鈥�
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