Prince Harry: Social Media Impact On Mental Health Needs To Be Discussed’

P rince Harry has told a group of mental health advocates in Wellington that the impact of social media on mental health is a real topic that needs to be discussed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spent time yesterday morning at the famous Wellington cafe, Maranui, chatting with youth mental health advocates about the importance of mental health education over a cup of tea.

Prince Harry asked Voices of Hope advocates about the role of social media and whether it plays a part in the number of young people experiencing mental health symptoms. He said it was a real topic that needed to be discussed.

“You’re all doing really excellent work,” Meghan told the guests before starting a round of applause. Among the youth advocates was Ezekiel Raui from community peer support group Key to Life. It’s his second royal engagement this year after visiting Buckingham Palace. Before meeting the royal pair at Maranui Cafe, he told Morning Report the Duke and Duchess of Sussex showed amazing commitment to mental health well-being. He had a private audience with Harry and Meghan in June, after winning one of the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards last year. Mr Raui said the Duke and Duchess were authentic people who cared. “What the Duke and Duchess do really well - and what I hope reflects in some way or form on organisations throughout New Zealand - is this willingness to talk about your vulnerabilities and understand that that’s a strength for New Zealand,” he said.

A crowd eagerly waited outside the cafe to catch a glimpse of the couple, with cute kids and cute dogs among the royal fans.

The royal couple have now journeyed across Cook Strait to the Abel Tasman National Park, where they went on a bush walk and was treated to a barbecue.

They also met some of the park’s youth ambassadors and local school children at a barbecue lunch for a tree planting. Department of Conservation ranger Andrew Lamason showed Harry and Meghan around the park’s bays and talked to them about conservation efforts in the area.

Photo: Kesington Palace Among the young people the Duke and Duchess met was Ezekiel Raui, one of The Queens Young Leaders, who after several youth suicides at his high school founded Te Kotahi, a peer-support programme led by young people.

Photo: Kesington Palace The Duchess of Sussex speaking to young fans outside Maranui Cafe.