This is Dad Of The Year material if you ask us.
Prince William shared an inspiring message on Father's Day through the mental health campaign Heads Together, where he opened up about the challenges of fatherhood and encouraged parents to focus on their children's psychological wellbeing.
His address was both crucial and compassionate regarding mental health conditions. He also stressed the importance of being more accepting when it comes to mental illness.
"While the circumstances of any one situation are unique, it is clear that many families could have been helped if they had found it easier to talk openly about mental health challenges in the home," he wrote.
"And I have been really disheartened to learn that even with all the progress made in recent years, many parents would still be ashamed if their children had a mental health problem," he continued.
The prince helped launch Heads Together in May, along with his brother Prince Harry and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. The project aims to focus on mental health issues and eradicate the stigma associated with the conditions.
The royals have also spoken out about mental health and young people through other awareness projects like the #YoungMindsMatter campaign, a series on The Huffington Post U.K. which took place during the U.K.'s Children's Mental Health Week.
It's estimated that 13 to 20 percent of children in America will deal with some type of mental health disorder in a given year. Advocacy by prominent figures like the royals is essential to dissolving the stigma around the conditions. Research shows negative stereotypes around mental health often prevent people from talking about it and seeking help.
"It is often said that fathers can often find it hard to talk about their own feelings so there’s no wonder they struggle to speak to their son or daughter about the topic," Prince William wrote on Sunday. "But we don’t really have a choice. I really believe that a child’s mental health is just as important as his or her physical health."
Props to the prince for raising awareness on such an important issue for both kids and their parents. Well done.
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