Prince Harry's New Initiative Has Been in the Works Since Before He and Meghan Were Even Engaged

Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images
Photo credit: Karwai Tang - Getty Images

From Town & Country

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle officially transitioned out of their senior positions in the royal family at the beginning of this month, but today, Harry is sharing the launch of a project that began nearly three years ago, before he and Meghan had even tied the knot.

This morning, the Duke of Sussex announced HeadFIT, a new mental health initiative in partnership with the British ministry of defense, which provides members of the defense community (both those currently serving and veterans) with self-help tools to manage stress.

The platform includes tutorials on breathing exercises, body posture, and relaxation techniques, all specifically designed to cater to those with military backgrounds, and all available 24/7.

Photo credit: HeadFit
Photo credit: HeadFit

"HeadFIT has been almost three years in the making, and I am extremely grateful for everyone who has been on this journey with us. Everyone who has worked on it, to create what we have today, should be incredibly proud and excited for the impact it will have," the Duke of Sussex said in a statement released today.

"I've long believed the military community should lead the way for the rest of society. For too long we have been waiting for problems to arise and then reacting to them. HeadFIT is a proactive approach to mental fitness, focusing on our own potential to increase our performance, using proven methods in sport science," he said.

HeadFit was "spearheaded" by Prince Harry and developed in a partnership between the Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign, the Ministry of Defence, and Kings College London, with clinical advice from Dr. Vanessa Moulton.

While Harry was clearly the lead on this project, it stayed under the umbrella of the Royal Foundation when he and Meghan branched off from that organization last year.

The Sussexes intend to start their own, new charity called Archewell at some point in the future, and while they have yet to announce the focus of their charitable efforts moving forward, it's fairly safe to assume that Harry will continue his work with the military community, and to reduce the stigma of issues related to mental health.

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