Duchess Kate Champions Mental Health in New PSA

The Duchess of Cambridge is raising awareness for Children's Mental Health Week.

ByABC News
February 8, 2016, 4:53 PM

— -- Duchess Kate is on a mission.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 34, is speaking out in a new public service announcement (PSA) to raise awareness for Children’s Mental Health week for her mental health charity, Place2Be.

The Duchess recorded a special video message to coincide with Children’s Mental Health week, which kicked off today in the U.K.

Kate’s message this year is focusing on the importance of building children’s resilience and their ability to cope with life’s stressful situations.

“For some children, learning to cope with life's challenges can be a struggle,” the Duchess says in the PSA. “By ensuring every child is given the emotional support they need, we are giving them a firm foundation for the happy healthy future they deserve."

The Duchess goes on to highlight the importance of addressing mental health problems early in life and the vital role schools play in providing a safe environment for kids in need.

Kate is juggling motherhood with an energetic Prince George and Princess Charlotte but remains committed to using her profile to benefit those without a voice.

“Both William and I sincerely believe that early action can prevent problems in childhood from turning into larger ones later in life,” the Duchess says in the PSA.

William, the second-in-line to the British throne, and Kate, the future Queen, are doing whatever they can to de-stigmatize mental illness, to fight bullying and to assure children that there is no shame in asking for help.

Prince William and Kate are making numerous appearances at schools, youth centers and meeting with young people to encourage them to reach out to their parents and educators if they feel overwhelmed.

Kate revealed at her first engagement of the New Year, on Sunday, that, like father like son, Prince George is obsessed with airplanes and wants to fly like his dad, a helicopter rescue pilot.

Speaking to a young female member of the RAF Air Cadets, Catherine said she shared pictures of spitfires with curious George and he too now wants to become a cadet.

The Duchess wore a Wegdewood blue Alexander McQueen coat and a Lock Hat adorned with a RAF Dacre brooch as she celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Cadets on Sunday.

The Duchess took last month off to focus on Prince George and Princess Charlotte and is back with a busy spring ahead.

Duchess Kate is increasingly taking on an even higher profile role in the royal family. She recently was named the first female Honorary Commandant of the Royal Air Force Cadets, a role Prince Philip held for more than half a century.

In the coming year, Kate is expected to expand her charitable endeavors. In April, she and Prince William will undertake a week-long tour of India and Bhutan on behalf of the Queen.

The Duchess of Cambridge is making mental health for children her number one priority, much like Princess Diana did with AIDS and her charitable endeavors.

Later this month, the Duchess will guest edit a special mental health issue for The Huffington Post U.K.

Her Royal Highness has been the royal patron of Place2Be since 2013. The charity's goal is to tackle the problems children face before they escalate. The charity is the U.K.'s leading children's mental health charity providing in-school support and expert training to improve the emotional well being of children, families, teachers and school staff.

It's something Kate feels incredibly passionate about and where she hopes she can make a real difference.

"Through my work in areas like addiction, I have seen time and again that the roots of poor mental health in adulthood frequently stem from unresolved childhood issues,” the Duchess urged parents and educators in the new PSA. "This needs to change."