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Prince Harry: mental health should be at heart of armed forces training Prince Harry: mental health should be at heart of armed forces training
(35 minutes later)
Prince Harry has stressed mental health strategies are crucial for armed forces personnel to create a “more confident, focused and, ultimately, more combat-ready military”. Prince Harry has said mental health strategies for armed forces personnel are crucial to create a “more confident, focused and, ultimately, more combat-ready military”.
In a speech at the Ministry of Defence, the 33-year-old prince, who spent 10 years in the army, said that as the number of active duty personnel had reduced there was a premium on “every individual being fighting fit and deployable”. In a speech at the Ministry of Defence, the 33-year-old prince, who spent 10 years in the army, said that as the number of active-duty personnel had been reduced there was a premium on “every individual being fighting fit and deployable”.
Announcing a joint initiative between the MoD and the Royal Foundation, created by the prince and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to tackle mental health issues, he stressed mental health strategies must be at the forefront of armed forces personnel training. Announcing a joint initiative between the MoD and the Royal Foundation, created by the prince and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to tackle mental health issues, Harry said mental health strategies needed to be at the forefront of armed forces personnel training.
“Quite simply, these men and women are prized assets which need to be continually invested in. We surely have to think of them as high-performance athletes, carrying all their kit, equipment and a rifle,” he said. “Quite simply, these men and women are prized assets which need to be continually invested in. We surely have to think of them as high-performance athletes, carrying all their kit, equipment and a rifle,” he said. “Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too.”
“Crucially, fighting fitness is not just about physical fitness. It is just as much about mental fitness too.” Like a physical warm-up before intense exercise, so the MoD and The Royal Foundation would have the same approach to mental health conditioning. The MoD said the move would build upon a recently launched government strategy aimed at improving mental health among military workers, civilian staff, their families and veterans.
The MoD said the move would build upon a recently launched government strategy aimed at improving mental health in military workers, civilian staff, their families and veterans. “The military has faced the challenge of dealing with things like post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression,” Harry said. There was a need to promote positive mental health management to “help prevent some of these issues before they develop”.
“The military has faced the challenge of dealing with things like post-traumatic stress, anxiety and depression,” Harry said, adding there was a need to promote positive mental health management to “help prevent some of these issues before they develop”. Staying mentally and emotionally sharp could help with “getting that extra 20% or possibly 30% more of performance, that can make all the difference,” he said. Staying mentally and emotionally sharp could help with “getting that extra 20% or possibly 30% more of performance that can make all the difference,” he said.
The goals needed to be “bold” and lead to a cultural change around mental health that could make personnel feel more resilient, lead to fewer medical discharges and create “a more confident, focused and, ultimately, more combat-ready military”. The goals needed to be bold and lead to a cultural change around mental health that could make personnel feel more resilient, lead to fewer medical discharges and create “a more confident, focused and, ultimately, more combat-ready military”.
“What we are talking about is creating fundamentally better soldiers and staff to support them. Throughout our training we develop a mindset which will not let weakness take over. We are taught to push ourselves through pain barriers to achieve what we thought was impossible. For too long, acknowledging emotion or challenging thoughts was seen as counterproductive to the fundamental characteristics of the armed forces,” he said.“What we are talking about is creating fundamentally better soldiers and staff to support them. Throughout our training we develop a mindset which will not let weakness take over. We are taught to push ourselves through pain barriers to achieve what we thought was impossible. For too long, acknowledging emotion or challenging thoughts was seen as counterproductive to the fundamental characteristics of the armed forces,” he said.
“Today we are saying that taking mental health seriously is what professional and dedicated service men and women must do to be above the rest and leading from the front.” “Today we are saying that taking mental health seriously is what professional and dedicated servicemen and women must do to be above the rest and leading from the front.”
As part of the joint initiative, the foundation will offer advice and resources to improve training, education and information-sharing for the whole of the armed forces. The initiative is expected to include annual briefings, websites and specialist support to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health among military personnel.As part of the joint initiative, the foundation will offer advice and resources to improve training, education and information-sharing for the whole of the armed forces. The initiative is expected to include annual briefings, websites and specialist support to raise awareness of the importance of good mental health among military personnel.
The defence secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said: “By looking after our mental health we are building a more effective armed forces that helps keep this country safe. Our soldiers, sailors and airmen are the best in the world, but we will only maintain that if we are as serious about improving mental health as we are our combat skills and cutting-edge technology.”The defence secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, said: “By looking after our mental health we are building a more effective armed forces that helps keep this country safe. Our soldiers, sailors and airmen are the best in the world, but we will only maintain that if we are as serious about improving mental health as we are our combat skills and cutting-edge technology.”