Prince Harry Just Delivered a Very Personal Speech About Mental Health and the Armed Forces

“Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too."

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Prince Harry is continuing his crusade to increase mental health awareness and conversation in the United Kingdom. On Monday, the royal spoke at the Ministry of Defence to kick off a new partnership to help improve mental health in the Armed Forces, ET Online reports.

“My 10 years in the army taught me a great deal. I learned about the true meaning of service, duty, resilience and dedication,” Harry said. “But in many ways I have learned more about the sacrifices our servicemen and women make for us all since I left the army and continued my work with the Invictus Games. Having a step back from day-to-day army life has allowed me to think carefully about how we prepare, support, and care for those who wear the uniform.”

Harry pointed out that mental health is just as vital as physical health, especially for people with high-pressure jobs.

“Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too…We have all seen professional athletes lose races or matches due to unforced errors. It is no different for anyone in high pressure roles.”

Harry, along with Prince William and Kate Middleton, have been great advocates for starting important conversations about mental health through their Heads Together charity. In addition to his work with Heads Together, Harry has dedicated himself to working with veterans, most notably through his Invictus Games. 

Kayleigh Roberts
Contributing Editor at Marie Claire

Kayleigh Roberts is a freelance writer and editor with over 10 years of professional experience covering entertainment of all genres, from new movie and TV releases to nostalgia, and celebrity news. Her byline has appeared in Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, The Atlantic, Allure, Entertainment Weekly, MTV, Bustle, Refinery29, Girls’ Life Magazine, Just Jared, and Tiger Beat, among other publications. She's a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.