Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey have been getting their heads together in the name of mental health.
The Duke of Sussex and the famed US TV host have been co-creating a documentary series on the subject, which will be aired next year on streaming service Apple TV+.
Prince Harry has long championed mental health issues since the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Kensington Palace said the Prince hopes the series will illustrate the “human spirit fighting back from the darkest places”, saying he was “incredibly proud to be working alongside Oprah on this vital series, which we have been developing together for several months”.
The Duke revealed in a 2017 podcast with The Telegraph‘s Bryony Gordon, Mad World, that his mother’s death had pushed him on the verge of breakdown on several occasions.
He admitted he spent 20 years “not thinking” about the tragedy as he struggled with his own mental health issues, revealing that it was not until the age of 28 that he truly addressed his grief.
Ever since, Prince Harry has been a leading global advocate for enacting positive change within mental health.
His venture with co-Executive Producer Winfrey is the latest chapter in that quest.
Winfrey told CBS show This Morning that when she asked the Prince what he thought were the biggest issues were in the right now, he said ‘There are two: climate change, and mental wellness, mental fitness’”.
“We’ve had several meetings. We’ve had secret meetings in London. I’ve flown there with the crew, sitting in sessions talking about the directions we’re going to take,” Winfrey told the US show.
“Our hope is that it will have an impact on reducing the stigma and allowing people to know they are not alone.
“I truly believe that good mental health – mental fitness – is the key to powerful leadership, productive communities and a purpose-driven self.”