Duke fears mental health catastrophe in absence of ‘socialising’
THE Duke of Cambridge has expressed fears of a “mental health catastrophe” if the entertainment industry collapses due to the pandemic.
Speaking to business owners in Liverpool, which is in Tier 3 lockdown, he said socialising was crucial for mental well-being and noted the worst effects may not be seen for many months. He spoke via video call to entrepreneurs Yousef Zaher, a local DJ, and Natalie Haywood, who runs several restaurants and event venues and who has already had to make almost a quarter of her 200 staff redundant.
Ms Haywood said: “He was very focused on the well-being of things and spoke of the mental health catastrophe
Britain will face if people aren’t allowed to experience social aspects of their lives. Yousef told him that music, socialising and being with friends is central to dealing with people’s mental health and William absolutely agreed with that.”
She said the Duke was keen to hear how people were coping and what was being done by the Government, even asking what he could do to help.
It came as he was given two new wildlife conservation patronages, increasingly a focus of his duties. Kensington Palace said yesterday that the Duke had succeeded the Queen as figurehead for Fauna and Flora International and the Duke of Edinburgh as patron of the British Trust for Ornithology.
It follows the launch of the Earthshot
Prize, a £50 million global environmental award designed to harness optimism and encourage progress in a “crucial decade” for the planet.
Dr Andy Clements, BTO’S chief executive, said: “I am delighted the Duke of Cambridge has become our patron, following on from his grandfather who worked so tirelessly on our behalf.”
He has big shoes to fill in taking over from Prince Philip, a lifelong ornithology enthusiast who had been at the helm of the organisation for 30 years.
The Queen was the FFI’S patron for almost seven decades. The organisation focuses on protecting threatened species and ecosystems in 40 countries and is a founding member of the Duke of Cambridge’s umbrella body United for Wildlife.