Prince Harry Shares The ‘Immense’ Difference in How Therapy Is Viewed In U.S. vs. the U.K

Harry grew up in one of the most famous families in the world. He also dealt with his mother’s death at a young age. The Duke of Sussex has shared that therapy is one way he cares for his mental health in his tumultuous life.

In the 2021 docuseries “The Me You Can’t See,” Harry shared that his wife, Meghan Markle, encouraged him to seek therapy. However, according to biographer Angela Levin, Harry previously told her that the person who got him to consider therapy was his brother, Prince William. Another royal author, Katie Nicholl, also backed up this claim that William suggested therapy to Harry before Meghan did.

File Photo/ Shutterstock | Prince Harry has revealed he is an advocate of therapy

Comparison elaborated 

Prince Harry has recently had a rare and candid conversation about his mental health, delving deeply into his experience with therapy and appreciating how seeking support is praised in the United States, where he now resides with his wife Meghan Markle and their children, in contrast to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex, speaking on the Masters of Scale podcast, underlined the “immense cultural disparities” between the British attitude toward treatment and the American “I’ll get my therapist to call your therapist” mentality.

Although mental health care knowledge in the United Kingdom has increased dramatically, most individuals are still surprised by the accompanying stigma. In the United States, a visit to a psychologist is viewed as rather ordinary, but in the United Kingdom, seeking treatment is viewed as a major admission of a humiliating condition, hence therapy sessions are likely to be kept secret.

PATRICK VAN KATWIJK/ GETTY | Prince Harry asserted that therapy enabled him to regain a sense of “confidence” that he hadn’t realized he had

Much of this stems from the quiet culture of the United Kingdom, the belief that a sad person should “simply get on with it,” “sort it out,” and under no circumstances “raise a fuss.” Those seeking therapy would not inform their coworkers out of concern for their careers. Moreover, claiming that the work itself contributed to melancholy or anxiety would be taken as an admission that you were just not qualified for the position.

Royal attempts to promote mental health in the U.K 

While Harry promotes mental health in California, other royals do so in the United Kingdom. For instance, in 2016, Prince William and Kate Middleton established the Heads Together mental health campaign. Since then, the pair has attempted to initiate discussions about mental health among children and adults.

BY SAEED KHAN/ AP/ GETTY IMAGES | Prince Harry says he prioritizes his mental health by avoiding ‘toxic parts of the online world 

William and Kate are also role models. They have shared with the public some of the challenges they have encountered, such as William’s time as an air ambulance pilot and the toll it had on him. Kate has also acknowledged experiencing difficulties as a mother. In addition, William has expressed his desire for his children to have a knowledge of their emotions, which he feels would aid them in navigating life’s challenges.