The Duchess of Sussex: Meghan talks about suicide fears while launching the Parents’ Network Project

The Duchess of Sussex relived her experience of suffering suicidal thoughts on Sunday, saying she had “only scraped the surface” of understanding it.

Meghan, who turned 43 yesterday, told a US broadcaster she had been on a “healing journey” since she considered suicide while living in Britain as a senior member of the Royal Family.

The duchess sent shock waves around the world in 2021 when she told Oprah Winfrey in an interview: “I just didn’t want to be alive any more.”

Yesterday she and her husband Harry appeared on CBS’s Sunday Morning program as they launched the Parents’ Network project to support families affected by suicide, abuse and self-harm following exposure to social media.

Announcing the project through the couple’s Archewell Foundation, she said: “When you have been through any level of pain or trauma I believe part of our healing journey – certainly part of mine – is being able to be open about it.”

“I haven’t really scraped the surface on my experience but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way, I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans, and I would never want someone else to not be believed.

“So if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really check in on them... then that’s worth it, I’ll take a hit for that.”

Speaking about the dangers of social media, Harry said that “every parent needs to be a first responder.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14.

Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to headspace.org.au.