Meghan Markle
On Sunday, March 7th, 2021, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry participated in a highly anticipated interview with Oprah Winfrey that was viewed by over 17 million people around the world. This interview was the first time the couple has faced the spotlight since splitting from the royal family back in March of 2020. Since leaving England, the couple has moved to Santa Barbara County in Southern California where they have been trying to live a normal life with their son Archie away from the pressures of the royal family.
During the interview with Oprah, Meghan shared that she experienced depression and suicidal ideation while pregnant with her and Prince Harry’s 19-month old son Archie due to intense and ongoing harassment from the royal family. Meghan and Harry also informed Oprah and the public that the Palace was engaging in a smear campaign in the British tabloids in an attempt to break up the couple. Meghan tried to seek help for her depression from a high-ranking royal official, but she was silenced and delegitimized because it “would be bad for the institution.” Anyone in the mental health community knows how difficult and vulnerable it can be to address and confront your mental health issues and how important it is for those around to be as accepting, respectful, and caring as possible. Meghan did not receive the help and resources she needed which intensified her depression and caused her to withdraw from those she loved.
Meghan also recently experienced a miscarriage, which was extremely painful for the couple and certainly added stress and pressure on Meghan’s mental health. Meghan shares, “I mean, I’ve lost my father. I lost a baby. I nearly lost my name. I mean, there’s the loss of identity. But I’m still standing, and my hope for people in the takeaway from this is to know that there’s another side.”
Prince Harry’s mother, the absolutely iconic Princess Diana, publicly addressed her struggles with bulimia in the 1990s which encouraged thousands of people to seek help for their own mental health challenges. Just as Princess Diana impacted many with her courage, Meghan Markle’s honesty during the Oprah interview has the power to save lives by portraying the message that depression and suicide should be openly discussed in our society instead of swept under the rug as it so often is. Meghan’s bravery in expressing her mental health struggles to the world in the face of so much political pressure to remain silent is truly inspiring, and I hope that more people become mental health allies and recognize that there are help and resources available.
I think Meghan Markle is the perfect Speak Out Sunday to feature following International Women’s Day on March 8th as she is a real bad-ass QUEEN who does not need a royal backing to inspire millions.