Why Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visited local youth group in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month

It is currently Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK and Mental Health Awareness Month internationally. In honour of the month, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited local youth group, AHA! Santa Barbara. 

According to Archewell, the couple went there to “learn firsthand about this generation’s experiences with social media and societal pressures and how it affects their mental well-being. “ The website went on to say that “During this hour-long session, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex spoke with teens ages 14-18 about the opportunities social media can provide for connection and community, as well as the ways in which it also raises issues of insecurity, peer-pressure and potential for self-harm, among other risks.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who recently enjoyed a sushi date together in Montecito, looked happy and relaxed amongst the teenagers. Instead of opting for brown like on her sushi date, Meghan Markle chose black this time. She wore a black pencil skirt, and a ribbed sweater. It also looked like Meghan was wearing a crystal pendant necklace, Meghan recently wore a crystal necklace on her hike. The exact necklace was called the Clarity Retreat Necklace and was a collaboration between her friend and Suits co-star Abigail Spencer with jeweller Maya Brenner. 

Although Prince Harry looked rather tense at the coronation, he seemed much more at ease for this outing to the youth group and was dressed in blue jeans, a long sleeve top and accessorised with bracelets. 

What is Mental Health Awareness Week?

Mental Health Awareness Week first began in 2001 by the UK's Mental Health Foundation. It brings awareness and action at scale and has grown to be the world's biggest annual mental health campaign, with 2023's theme based on anxiety. The foundation hope to increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem, wile at the same time, the foundation will keep up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.

More information on Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 can be found by visiting the foundation's official page dedicated to this year's theme.