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Meghan Markle says 'opening up about suicidal thoughts' was a part of her healing journey' but adds she has 'only scraped the surface of her experience' - as she launches campaign with Prince Harry to protect children on social media
Meghan Markle has said she has 'only scraped the surface' of discussing the suicidal thoughts she had while a working member of the royal family, three years after she told Oprah Winfrey she 'didn't want to be alive anymore' while living in the UK.
The Duchess of Sussex, who turns 43 today, has launched a campaign alongside her husband Prince Harry, 39, to tackle child safety online.
In an interview for American broadcaster CBS, the royals discussed the launch of the Parents Network with anchor Jane Pauley and hugged and spoke with parents who lost their children to suicide, which in many cases was linked to social media usage, with Harry and Meghan saying they want to be there so they have a place to come for help'.
Meghan first said spoke of her suicidal thoughts while being a working royal in an bombshell interview with Oprah in 2021.
She now says she hopes her candour will help others and will encourage people to check in on their friends.
Harry and Meghan have released a new CBS interview about cyber abuse, with the Duke saying parents have to be 'first responders'
Meghan said that 'opening up' is part of the healing process and she hopes her candour will help others
'I think 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,' the duchess said while wearing £12,800 Cartier necklace and £1485 Ralph Lauren coords..
'And 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.
'And I would never want someone else to be making those sorts 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 genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good so everything's okay, then that's worth it.
'I'll take a hit for that.'
The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah in 2021 she 'couldn't be left alone' and told her husband she 'didn't want to be alive anymore' before claiming the Buckingham Palace HR department ignored her plea for help because she wasn't a 'paid employee'.
'I was really ashamed to say it at the time, and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry especially, because I know how much loss he suffered. But I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it … and I just didn't want to be alive anymore,'.
Describing how she considered ending her life believing it 'was better for everyone', Meghan said: 'I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it. I just didn't want to be alive anymore. And that was a very clear and real and frightening constant thought. I remember how he just cradled me.
'I said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. I said that 'I've never felt this way before, and I need to go somewhere'. And I was told that I couldn't, that it wouldn't be good for the institution'.
The video also featured a clip of Meghan hugging bereaved parents
She said that after confiding in her husband, she was forced to go to the Royal Albert Hall for a charity event in January 2019, claiming photos from that night 'haunt me'.
She told Oprah she later reached out to one of the best friends of Diana, Princess of Wales, because she felt unsupported by the palace.
She said: 'When I joined that family, that was the last time I saw my passport, my driving licence, my keys - all of that gets turned over'. Meghan said Harry had 'saved my life' by agreeing to move to Los Angeles.
In today's pre-recoreded interview, Harry and Meghan also met with a group of parents who lost their children to suicide.
Host Jane Pauley said the pair were 'no strangers' to online bullying', with footage showing the couple hugging bereaved parents with Meghan saying she is 'so happy' they came.
Harry also spoke of the 'scariest thing' about social media being 'absolutely anyone' can lose a loved one.
'We always talk about in the olden days, if kids are under your roof, you know what they are up to. At least they're safe.
'But now, they could in the next room, in a tablet or phone, going down these rabbit holes, and within 24 hours they could be taking their life'.
Meghan and Harry met with other parents near their home in Santa Barbara
Meghan first said spoke of her suicidal thoughts while being a working royal in an bombshell interview with Oprah in 2021
Meghan also discussed their own experience with their children, Archie and Lilbet.
'Our kids are young, they're three and five, they're amazing, but all you want to do as parents is protect them,' the Duchess said.
'And 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.'
When the broadcaster adds 'you hope that when your children ask for help, someone is there to give it' the Duke adds only 'if you know to help.'
'At this point we've got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder,' he said. 'And even the best first responders in the world wouldn't be able to tell the signs of possible suicide. That is the terrifying piece of this.'
Responding to host Jane Pauley saying it was a 'modest beginning, Meghan added: 'You have to start somewhere. Anyone watching this or anyone able to make change needs to look through the lens of 'what if this was my son or daughter?'.
'Your son or daughter who comes home who are joyful, who I love, and one day, right under my roof, our entire lives change because of something that's completely out of my control. And if you look at is as a parent, there is no way to see it any other way than to try and find a solution'.
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have launched an initiative aimed at tackling child safety online.
The interview comes as part of a new campaign the couple have launches with their Archwell foundation.
Called The Parents' Network, Harry and Meghan have joined a group of parents have come together, to help offer a 'safe and supportive community is available to all parents and caregivers navigating the complex digital world'.
This group includes those who 'have first-hand knowledge of the pain and destruction caused by social media use'.
A description of the network on the Sussexes' Archewell Foundation website says: 'Each of us have been through something no parent should ever have to experience, and our mission is to prevent anyone else from suffering the way we have.
Throughout the interview, Meghan also spoke about her 'amazing' children - Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three
'For anyone who has a child affected by social media harms, we are here to support you. Our safe and supportive community is available to all parents and caregivers navigating the complex digital world.'
As part of the campaign, which carries the slogan #NoChildLostToSocialMedia, a video featuring parents who have lost their children to suicide because of online harm has been posted on the Foundation's website.
In addition, a list of three guides has been posted on the site, each tackling a social media platform, including Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.
The guides are described by the site as being 'repurposed in partnership with The Social Media Victims Law Center'.
Compiled using information from the Center's online social media guides, they include information about what each platform is used for, and how caregivers can 'improve their child's safety' while they are using them.
One of the couples featured in the interview was Donna and Chris Dawley whose heir 17-year old son, C.J., died from suicide after what they believe was depression fuelled by social media use.
They told Jane they believed he had a 'demon in his bedroom'.
'We had no idea what happened to our son,' said Donna. 'You know, he had a beautiful car. He had a job he liked. He was happy kid'.
'Sisters that loved him, parents that adored him,' said Chris added.
He added that he was so addicted to his phone, he died with it still in his hand.
'He still had it in his hand, the phone; that's how addicted he was,' said Donna. 'He couldn't even kill himself without posting about it first,'.
Group facilitator Leora Wolf-Prusan said the important thing about the group is that they will talk to each other.
'We're gonna stop expecting you to be 'done' with your grief in a year,' she told Jane.
'We're gonna stop telling you that we're tired of hearing the stories of internet harm. Like, we will say your kid's name over and over again, because they existed, and they mattered. And that we know that it wasn't your fault. That's it, right? It wasn't your fault. This happened to you. And now we as a community get to create something with you.'
Taj and Selene Swanson-Jensen also joined Harry and Meghan in the interview.
Their son, Tanner, died from an overdose of drugs were pushed to him online.
Also in the interview was Brandy and Toney Roberts, who daughter, Englyn, died by suicide following online bullying.
Perla Mendoza, also spoke to Harry and Meghan. His son Eli, died when a painkiller he bought online was actually a lethal dose of fentanyl.
Members of The Parents' Network are pictured meeting in person for the launch of the new initiative
Harry and Meghan were shown embracing parents from The Parents' Network as they met in person for its launch
When asked by Jane why they 'do all this' Taj said: 'Simple answer: So others don't have to live what we've lived, and will continue to live.'
Perla said, 'I don't expect anything from anyone. This is just a labour of love in honour of my son and all the other children that have lost their lives to fentanyl. This is for the mother who cannot get out of bed, for the dad that won't leave his house. I stand here for them, too. And I hope that one day, when it's my turn to go home, I'll see my son, and he'll tell me, "Good job, Mama.''
Harry and Meghan have raised the issue numerous times since their move to America, and are also due to focus the spotlight on the topic during their official visit to Colombia following an invitation by vice president Francia Marquez.
The Sussexes' trip to the South American nation will be their second official tour of the year after they visited Nigeria in May, taking part in a range of activities over three days.
While details of the couple's itinerary have not been released by the Archewell Foundation, the vice president said they would 'engage in several activities' related to safeguarding young people online and in physical spaces.
Meghan opted for a £12,800 Cartier necklace and £1485 Ralph Lauren coords in the interview.
She previously sported the yellow gold choker with 57 diamonds to the Invictus Games Opening Ceremony.
Adding more American brands, Meghan looked summery in matching Ralph Lauren coords.
The Duchess paired the £570 Adrien relaxed fit broadcloth shirt in mauve with the brand's £915 evanne Trouser in the same colour.
Opting for her signature natural look, Meghan wore her hair in loose waves and highlighted her beauty with a light layer of make-up.
The mother-of-two fluffed up her eyebrows with a dark pencil while adding highlighter and a creamy foundation to her skin.
A deep pink creamy lip finished off the look while black eyeliner and mascara highlighted her eyes.
For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org for details; In the US call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)