'Take the time to listen - even if you are a prince': Stephen Fry and Prince William interrupt hundreds of UK radio stations with a plea to listeners to talk about their mental health problems
- Prince William and celebrities broadcast message on mental illness today
- Stephen Fry and Katy Perry joined him to emphasise importance of talking
- Duke of Cambridge called on people to 'stop and listen to those in need'
- It was heard simultaneously across hundreds of UK radio stations at 11am
It is a subject he has never been shy to tackle head-on.
Now the Duke of Cambridge has joined Stephen Fry and pop star Katy Perry in recording a message to emphasise the importance of talking about mental illness which interrupted regular radio programmes this morning.
Prince William called on the nation to 'stay mentally fit and healthy' by talking about their problems in the message that was broadcast simultaneously across 400 UK radio stations including BBC Radio 1, 5Live, Heart, Capital, Kiss, TalkSport and local BBC Radio platforms.
The Duke asked Brits to 'really stop and listen to a person in need' in the minute-long message broadcast at 10.59am to mark the start of mental health awareness week.
Others taking part included Katy Perry, Jameela Jamil, Alesha Dixon and the comic and actor Stephen Fry, who has talked about his battles with mental health over the years.
The Duke of Cambridge (pictured) has joined Stephen Fry and pop star Katy Perry in recording a message to emphasise the importance of talking about mental illness
Prince William recorded the 'mental health minute' along with celebrities including Fry, pictured, who urged Brits to 'take the time to listen' to people's problems
The broadcast was organised by commercial radio body Radiocentre and The Royal Foundations's Heads Together mental health campaign, and was also heard on student and hospital radio stations
In the message Fry, who is President of mental health charity Mind, said: 'There are people out there desperate to be heard and you can help by taking the time to listen - even if you are a prince.'
The Duke spoke after the actor, adding: 'Being able to talk about how you're feeling is essential for keeping mentally fit and healthy.
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'So maybe now is the time for us to stop and to really listen.'
The radio message came days after the launch of the Heads Together legacy project, Shout, a free 24/7 crisis text service being delivered by Mental Health Innovations.
The message ended with Prince William saying: 'And each and every one of us has the power to make a difference to someone.'
Other celebrities who took part in the one-minute broadcast included British actress and campaigner Jameela Jamil, left, and singer Katy Perry, right,
Jameela Jamil added: 'Just by taking a minute to stop and to listen, really listen'.
The Royal Foundation - the charitable vehicle for Prince William, Prince Harry and their wives Kate and Meghan - last week launched a campaign to find 3,000 volunteers to support those with mental health problems via a free 24/7 service, called Shout, offering instant support via text message.
Lorraine Heggessey, chief executive of The Royal Foundation, said: 'We are so grateful to be working with Radiocentre who have bought the radio industry together... to remind everyone of the power of listening, and let them know about the plethora of mental health volunteering opportunities they can get involved in in the UK.'
