The Prince of Wales paid a meaningful visit today to a charity that holds a particularly special connection to both him and his wife, Princess Catherine.
Prince William visited Mental Health Innovations (MHI) in London to commemorate a significant milestone and learn more about its recent merger with The Mix, a digital service dedicated to helping young people develop essential life skills and build meaningful connections. William and Catherine have long been passionate advocates for mental health, dedicating much of their royal work to promoting awareness and support for well-being initiatives.
Established in 2017 by The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales, MHI harnesses digital innovation, data-driven analysis, and clinical expertise to provide scalable, impactful mental health services. In 2019, the charity launched Shout, the UK’s first free, 24/7 text-based crisis support service. Recently, Shout reached a remarkable milestone, surpassing three million conversations with individuals seeking support.
During his visit, the future King engaged with members of MHI’s Youth Advisory Board, a group of dedicated young volunteers who contribute to the services provided through both The Mix and Shout. William learned how the recent merger is helping to build a more comprehensive, free 24/7 mental health support system that aims to reach millions more young people struggling with their well-being. Toward the end of his visit, he was given a demonstration of Shout’s new generative AI conversation simulator, a cutting-edge tool designed to enhance volunteer training.
This marks the second public appearance for William in as many days. On Wednesday, in his role as Patron of NHS Charities Together, he visited the Royal Berkshire Hospital to witness the impact of funding provided by the charity since the coronavirus pandemic. He also took the opportunity to listen to healthcare workers' experiences and challenges during that period. While speaking with staff, William suggested that NHS employees should be given enforced career breaks to support their mental well-being. He noted that unless structured breaks are incorporated into career development, the responsibility of seeking mental health support will always fall solely on the individual, making it difficult to ensure long-term well-being in high-pressure professions.
