The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s Royal Foundation charity has donated £1.8m to mental health charities as part of a “Covid-19 Response Fund”.
The money will be split between 10 organisations that support people with mental health issues, including Mind, Hospice UK, the Ambulance Staff Charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably, and YoungMinds.
Some of the organisations receiving the fund have already revealed how the grants will be spent.
Suicide prevention charity Campaign Against Living Miserably, for example, has said it will now increase capacity on its helplines. This means they will be able to respond to 2,300 more contacts each month.
Meanwhile, 20,000 new mothers will be supported in a mental health training project led by Best Beginnings, which supports new parents.
Additionally, all emergency responders will be able to receive individual grief trauma counselling, as Hospice UK will be able to extend its be bereavement service originally provided counsellors for NHS England and social care staff.
Both Prince William and Kate have been vocal advocates of mental health awareness.
In April, the couple told the BBC that the pandemic had been “stressful” on people’s mental wellbeing.
“If we are going to go forward with more time spent in lockdown, then there is going to be an ever-increasing need for people to look after their mental health and take it seriously and also know where to go to get the support they might need,” said Prince William.
Kate added: ”While that’s hugely important we mustn’t forget our mental wellbeing as well and making sure you’re reaching out to those people around you that you have access to – even if it’s over the phone or online to really make sure you have those conversations.”
The Royal Foundation was established in 2009 by Prince William and the Duke of Sussex and has since championed various causes, including the armed forces, animal conservation and mental health.
Kate joined the Foundation after marrying Prince William and the Duchess of Sussex followed suit following her marriage to Prince Harry.
However, last year, Meghan and Harry left the Royal Foundation to form their own organisation.
Since leaving the royal family in January, they have announced plans for a new philanthropic organisation, Archewell, which has yet to launch.
