Prince Harry warns ‘silence is killing people’ as he highlights growing crisis at Movember event
The Duke of Sussex issued a stark warning that men are suffering in silence and isolation as he attended men’s health charity Movember in New York to highlight a growing crisis.
Harry took part in a panel discussion at the launch of the Movember Men’s Health Institute’s report investigating why men often avoid seeking help.
The findings revealed that a significant 53 percent of men in the United States die prematurely, before their 75th birthday.
The duke joined researchers for the conversation, with the charity Archewell saying the discussion explores “a portrait of American masculinity at a crossroads.”
Harry, who has long been an advocate for improving mental health support, stressed that “silence kills people”.
He added: “When I talk to men the same struggles are repeated, which shows me that the burden they carry is not uncommon.
“The biggest obstacle is the belief that no one will understand. Loneliness makes you believe that you are the only person, which is rarely true.”
He expressed his concerns about social media, emphasizing that many young people are being raised by algorithms that make them feel powerless and hopeless, rather than real mentors such as fathers, coaches and friends.
He also praised members of the military and first responders as some of the strongest role models, saying: “They are the real superheroes.”
Harry added: “I found myself speaking to many veterans and as I sat with them I realized that silence kills people.
“We’ve come a long way in eliminating stigma around the world. Access to therapy is still a big issue.”
Harry said the challenge is to create more spaces, online and offline, where conversations can take place and where seeking help is normalised.
Research from The Real Face Of Men’s Health: US report showed that men consistently underestimate how many of their peers support open, emotional conversations.
In the United States, men are twice as likely as women to die from accidents and drug overdoses, nearly 20 percent more likely to die from cancer, and 3.6 times more likely to die prematurely from suicide.
The data showed that more than one in four men aged 18 to 34 reported experiencing mental health problems in the past year, with the highest rate among men aged 30 to 34 (32%).
