The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge undertook a joint engagement on Tuesday to attend Shout’s Crisis Volunteer celebration event in London to acknowledge the wonderful and important work the volunteers have been doing.
The crisis text line was launched by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May, as an extension of The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together Campaign and while the Harry and Meghan were unable to attend the night’s festivities (they have this week begun their extended break from royal duties), they were clearly not far from Prince William’s mind, who gave them a ‘shout’ out on the evening.
“Catherine and I, and Harry and Meghan couldn’t be more proud of what Shout has accomplished,” Prince William said during the celebratory event at the Troubadour White City Theatre in London.
“We’re hugely proud and hugely grateful to all of you for being part of this.”
During the engagement the couple learned about the impact the textline has made so far and according to Hello! learned that 75 per cent of those who reached out to Shout were under the age of 25, and some of the most frequent subjects of conversation included messages about depression, suicide and anxiety, as well as relationships, feelings of isolation and self-harm.
The royal parents-of-three also met with some of the 1500 volunteers and watched a special performance.
At the end of July, both the Cambridges and the Sussexes took to Instagram to share an incredible milestone Shout UK had achieved.
Reposting an Instagram image from the official Shout UK, Kensington Palace shared that since its launch in May, Shout UK volunteers had taken 100,000 text conversations, equating to around four million messages of support.
“Shout operates 24/7 and connects people in need to trained volunteers who provide help at a time when it is most needed,” Kensington Palace wrote.
“Enabling them to move from a moment of crisis to a calm state and form a plan for next steps to find longer-term support.”
Two months later, Prince William also revealed he wanted to train as a Shout volunteer counsellor as he helped to a new initiative with Shout UK to also provide a 24/7 crisis text service to frontline emergency service communities, retired or serving, and their families across the UK.
Prince William revealed earlier this year that he was interested in training as a Shout volunteer counsellor. (Image: Getty)
Later that month the Cambridges and Sussexes, once dubbed ‘the Fab Four’, also acknowledged World Suicide Prevention Day, posting a powerful video featuring the Shout UK helpline.
The video shows eight men and women reading out heartbreaking messages like the ones Shout might receive, explaining there are thousands of ways to start a conversation about your crisis and that Shout was there for all of them.
