Prince Harry and wife Meghan have announced the launch of The Parents’ Network, an initiative that provides a safe and free support network for parents whose children have been hurt by social media. While a pilot program of the initiative was introduced two years ago, the network is now available to parents living in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada.
On Sunday, the pair appeared in a rare joint interview with CBS Sunday Morning’s Jane Pauley to discuss The Parents’ Network, freshly launched via their Archewell Foundation. Together, they spoke about the couple’s goal of making social media safer for children, as well as helping parents who have lost children to suicide as a result of online bullying. Pauley then drew comparisons between the anti-bullying initiative and Meghan’s previous struggle with suicidal ideation.
“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,” Meghan said in the interview. “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.”
The duchess went on to explain that sharing her experience might “save someone or encourage someone in their life to really, genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good.” After sharing her own battle in 2021, Meghan received messages of support from many celebrities, including Beyoncé and Serena Williams.
In a preview for the previously recorded interview, the couple offered insight on how their kids – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet – influence their work. “Our kids are young. They’re three and five. They’re amazing,” Meghan said. “But all you wanna do as parents is protect them. 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.”
The Parents’ Network seems to be part of the pair’s larger movement to protect children. For years, Prince Harry has protected Meghan and their children, keeping his family away from the limelight and legally challenging the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, which revoked his personal protection in the U.K. after he stepped down as a senior royal.
“Harry has been reluctant to show his children publicly, not out of a desire to hide them, but to protect their privacy and safety from potential threats,” a friend of the couple said to People. “He wants them to lead as normal a life as possible without the fear of kidnapping or harm.” The Parents’ Network should help Prince Harry, as well as other parents, better protect their kids – especially once they begin to use social media.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
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