The Duke of Cambridge spoke candidly about how seeing people die when he was an air ambulance pilot left him traumatized “for weeks on end” and feeling that the world was a “darker and blacker place”.
Based on his own experiences speaking to front-line workers facing the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince William, 38, acknowledged that his work regularly affected his “family life” and said that ” is really concerned ”about the impact that staff are now having when they have seen high levels of sadness, trauma and death. ‘
The royal, who worked with doctors and paramedics, providing emergency medical treatment at the East England Air Ambulance, spoke in a video conversation with front-line workers and counselors about mourning support.
William, who was joined by his wife, the 39-year-old Duchess of Cambridge, who wore an elegant display in a gray blazer with a black collar detail, said: “I noticed some of them. from my previous spell flying an ambulance with the team.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on Wednesday heard of the crucial mental health support provided to frontline workers during the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ mourning counseling and assistance line pandemic on Wednesday.
Pictured, top row (LR): – Carly Kennard, Jules Lockett, Conal Devitt and Manal Sadik. Midline (LR): – Phil Spencer, Tony Collins and Caroline Francis
“When you see so much death and so much pain, it has an impact on the way you see the world. It is very interesting what you said about the fact that you can see things in a different light.
“I think you said about the thought that everyone around you is going to die, that’s what really worries me about front-line staff right now.
“That you are so under the basket at the moment and so pressurized and that you see such high levels of sadness, trauma, death, that it affects your own life and your own family life, because it is always there.
“You are so attracted to this, which is everyone, it is natural for it to happen.
“But I think that many audiences do not understand, that when you are surrounded by that level of intense trauma, sadness and mourning.
“Indeed, he stays with you, he stays with you at home for weeks on end, doesn’t he, and you see the world in a much slightly more depressed, darker, blacker place.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were last seen with their children at a special pantomime show at the Palladium Theater in London in December (pictured)
An overview of the Anmer Hall front on the Sandringham Estate on January 13, 2013 in King’s Lynn
Both royal couples stressed that it is vital that front-line staff – including police, who suffer from the stigma of imposing blocking restrictions – end up receiving support at this critical time and that the stigma surrounding seeking help for their mental health must be addressed. to stop.
Prince William continued: “It is an unprecedented moment that we are all facing. I think it really should be fixed at home right now, is that this has only been seen by anyone, especially this third wave we are going through now.
“People need to understand how you are a normal human being, who is doing a great job at a very, very difficult time, and I hope that this service gives people the way they need.
“I’m afraid, as you said, that you are all so busy taking care of everyone else that you won’t have enough time to take care of yourself and we won’t see the impact for quite some time.”
William spoke with Phil Spencer, the Cleveland Police Welfare Inspector, who told the royal couple about the frustration many police officers felt at the sharp end of the pandemic, fining people who violated strict blocking regulations.
He said: “Emergency services are difficult at the best of times, the police are very difficult at the best of times, but they are throwing a pandemic at it …
“We are all the same and you don’t misunderstand me, and the NHS are rightly absolute heroes, and my heart goes out to the London ambulance service and the rest of them, but we [the police service] it is seen that sometimes villains – again they can’t do good to make mistakes – have to take out fines and set the law. ‘
The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) said her thoughts were with workers on the front line of the pandemic, as she celebrated a “very different” birthday. In the photo, in the royal train tour in December
He warned: “Maybe below, when all this disappears, we will have some broken police officers and emergency services personnel.
“Because we are too busy focusing on protecting the most vulnerable people in our communities, but with our hands on our hearts, I think our services are the most vulnerable people right now and it’s horrible to see. We need so much help.
William replied: “It is an unprecedented moment that you are all facing. This has never been seen before by people, especially this third wave we are going through now.
“People need to understand how you are a normal person doing a great job at a very difficult time. You are all so busy taking care of everyone else that you won’t take the time to take care of yourself.
The Duchess of Cambridge also asked front-line workers what more could be done to convince her colleagues of the importance of prioritizing mental health care.
Kate said: “There has never been a more important time to have such services there, so I’m glad they’re used as well.”
Wednesday’s call also highlighted how the Royal William and Kate Foundation helped provide financial support through its Covid-19 Response Fund.
The foundation has worked with NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Department of Health and Welfare to help fund the Hospice UK Only “B” helpline, which supports NHS staff, social workers, carers and all emergency services staff.