Press Association | PremierChristian.news | Sunday, May 24, 2020

The Duke of Cambridge has called on those experiencing issues to seek help as he joined the national Church of England service marking the end of mental health week.

In a video message, pre-recorded for Sunday’s online event, William urged those with problems to speak out – just as he did in a public statement made at the start of the week.

During that earlier message, the duke also advised the nation to “reach out to someone” struggling with psychological problems during the coronavirus outbreak.

Rev Prof Gina Radford, a vicar in Devon and a former deputy chief medical Officer for England, led the Sunday service and said in her sermon Mental Health Awareness Week has had a “particular significance” this year as more people struggle with their well-being.

She said: “For some people of faith this is particularly challenging. Surely, we might ask, my faith should get me through? But we need to face the reality that we are human – we are body, mind and spirit. We are all susceptible to mental ill-health, just as we are to physical ill-health.”

Rev Prof Chris Cook, director of the Centre for Spirituality, Theology and Health at Durham University and a former professor of psychiatry, led prayers for all those whose mental health has suffered because of the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.