Meghan Markle got very, very, very raw.
Talking about something very personal and terribly painful.
Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, sat down with Jane Pauley for an interview that aired on CBS Sunday Morning on August 4 and discussed a new show called The Parents Network through their Archewell Foundation.
Its aim is to support parents whose children have been affected by trauma related to the use of social media.
During the discussion of this important topic, Markle was asked about her own history with thoughts of self-harm.
(If you recall, the Duchess of Sussex said in a Interview with Oprah Winfrey that she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore” during the worst period, when she was being hounded by the British press and felt very unwanted by the Royal Family.)
Yes, Meghan acknowledged to Pauley that there is a “common thread” between her experience and that of children affected by harmful situations they encounter on the Internet.
He went on to explain the following…
“When you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I think part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it.
“I’ve really scratched the surface of my experience, but I don’t think I would ever want anyone else to feel that way, for anyone else to make those kinds of plans and for anyone else not to be believed.”
The Duchess of Sussex continued:
“If expressing what I’ve overcome will save someone or encourage someone in their life to really care about themselves and not assume that looks are good and everything is fine, then it’s worth it.
“I’ll take a toll on you for that.”
Markle and Harry are parents to Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3.
The latter has been candid for some time about concerns He is responsible for the safety of both spouses. and these young people… all of whom exist under the bright glare of social media and paparazzi.
“Our kids are little, they’re 3 and 5. They’re amazing,” Markle added with a smile in this same interview. “But all we want to do as parents is protect them…
“We see what is happening in the online space and we know there is a lot of work to be done there, and we are happy to be able to be part of a change for the better.”
Prince Harry also expressed his general concern during this interview.
“At this point, we’ve reached a stage where almost every parent has to be a first responder, and even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to spot the signs of a possible suicide,” he said. “That’s the scary part of it.”
Markle previously said she contemplated suicide when she was pregnant with Archie.
As we reported a few years ago, some members of the Royal Family expressed deep concern at the time. that Archie would be born with dark skin.
Simply horrible things.
“I think you have to start somewhere,” Markle said Sunday of the new show’s modest beginnings.
“Look at it from the perspective of, ‘What if it was my daughter? What if it was my son? My son or daughter, who comes home happy?’ [and] I love, and one day, right under our roofs, our entire lives change because of something completely out of our control.
“If you look at it from a parent’s perspective, there’s no other way to look at it than to try to find a solution.”
The Parents Network, according to a press release, hopes to provide a safe and free support network for parents whose children have been harmed by social media.
Following a two-year pilot program, it is now available for use in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
“Over the past two years, alongside our co-founders Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, our team has engaged deeply with parents and young people about the impact of social media on their mental, physical and emotional wellbeing,” James Holt, Archewell’s chief executive, said in a statement.
“It became abundantly clear that there is a critical need for connection and community among those who understand the pain, fear and isolation caused by the impact of social media on children.
“We believe in the transformative power of community and that is why we have created this network: to connect those facing these challenges and offer mutual support.”