CAMBRIDGE CHARITY: The Duchess of Cambridge is promoting the launch of a series of podcasts dealing with children’s mental health. The Child in Mind series features 20-minute segments hosted by BBC Radio 4 presenter Claudia Hammond.
A patron of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, the duchess made a statement supporting the initiative: “Throughout my work with family and child support organizations, one thing that has stood out to me time and again is that getting early support for a child who is struggling to cope is the best possible thing we can do to help our children as they grow up,” she said.
“Knowing this, both William and I feel very strongly that we wouldn’t hesitate to get expert support for George and Charlotte if they need it. One in three adults still say they would be embarrassed to seek help for their child’s mental health. No parent would fail to call the doctor if their child developed a fever, yet some children are tackling tough times without the support that can help them, because the adults in their life are scared to ask. It doesn’t need to be like this.”
She said she hopes the podcasts will help families overcome their fears of what happens if they seek professional support. “They show how, with the right help, children have a good chance of overcoming their issues while they are still young, and can have the bright future they deserve.”
The series of podcasts are accessible on annafreud.org, on iTunes and Soundcloud.