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Duke And Duchess Of Cambridge Continue To Be Champions Of Kids’ Mental Health

They want kids to know it's OK to talk about your feelings.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge listen to a presentation before speaking to school children at MediaCityUK on Dec. 6.
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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge listen to a presentation before speaking to school children at MediaCityUK on Dec. 6.

Children's mental health is a top priority for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who have two kids themselves and are expecting their third in April. That's why the royal couple stepped out in Manchester on Wednesday to support the important cause.

The Duchess of Cambridge talks to children as she attends a 'Stepping Out' session at Media City on Dec. 6.
Chris Jackson via Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge talks to children as she attends a 'Stepping Out' session at Media City on Dec. 6.

The couple visited children at Friars Primary School in Salford, where 14-year-old Josh Gale shared a film he created for BBC's "Newsround" about developing obsessive-compulsive disorder. In the Q&A following the screening, the teen revealed how it felt to talk about his struggles with mental health.

"It was metaphorically and physically like a weight off my shoulders," Gale said. "I was wanting to tell someone but I thought no one would understand."

The duke and duchess then participated in group discussions with the kids, where they stressed that it's OK to talk about your feelings.

"People are so worried about what they say, they aren't saying anything at all, and what we've found from speaking to people is it's so good to have conversations," Catherine told the children.

William added, "Mental health used to be this scary word that people didn't like talking about and it's slowly getting better now."

The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to children about mental health.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Duchess of Cambridge speaks to children about mental health.

To further support kids' mental health, the duke and duchess later attended the Children's Global Media Summit, along with delegates from more than 30 countries, to explore the impact technology will have on children's futures.

Prince William was the keynote speaker at the event and specifically addressed how technology impacts kids' mental health.

"Parents like Catherine and me are raising the first generation of digitally-immersed children – and this gives us many reasons to be optimistic about the impact of technology on childhood," he said. "What we cannot do, however, is pretend that the impact of digital technology is all positive or, indeed, even understood."

This is why Prince William has launched a cyberbullying taskforce, which brings together media companies, children's charities and parents to protect children against cyberbullying.

"We can be hopeful about the future of our society when we all know that protecting the essence of childhood remains our collective and urgent priority," he concluded in his speech.

This isn't the first time William has addressed the correlation between social media and mental health. At a gala last month, the 35-year-old father gave a speech on that exact topic.

Prince William delivers a speech at the annual SkillForce Gala on Nov. 6 in London.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince William delivers a speech at the annual SkillForce Gala on Nov. 6 in London.

"The pressure on young people these days is considerable — almost certainly more than even for my generation not so long ago," he said.

"Children are tested more than ever before and are being prepared to enter a highly competitive work market. On top of this, there is a sense of being 'on call' 24/7 through social media, and the subsequent strains this can have on relationships, home life and, ultimately, a child's sense of their own self-worth. It can all take its toll."

The duchess has also always been a mental health advocate and has made considerable efforts to end the stigma around mental health. Back in September, the royal released a video encouraging kids to talk about their feelings.

In a statement, she explained why communication is so important: "Encouraging children to understand and be open about their feelings can give them the skills to cope with the ups and downs that life will throw at them as they grow up."

Together, it's clear the royals are on a mission to improve the lives of children everywhere.

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