The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are tackling the issue of suicide on a day of joint engagements in London. Prince William and Kate continued to show their commitment to raising awareness of mental health issues by visiting St. Thomas' Hospital on Thursday morning.
Wearing a smart green Erdem coat and her hair down in loose waves, the Duchess looked typically chic as she arrived at the hospital alongside her husband. The royal couple learned about the work being done at the hospital to prevent suicide and to support those who have been bereaved by suicide.
© Photo: TwitterPrince William and Kate visited St Thomas' Hospital in London on Thursday
They also met Jonny Benjamin, who was saved by a stranger when he tried to take his own life in 2008. He later launched the Find Mike campaign to find the man who saved him and was reunited with Neil Laybourn.
Now a mental health campaigner, Benjamin has praised William and Kate for the efforts they are making in tackling the issue, and joined Neil to meet the royal couple and share their own experiences.
© Photo: Getty ImagesThe royal couple chatted to Jonny Benjamin who launched the Find Mike campaign
Later in the afternoon Prince William and Kate will drop into a screening of a Channel 4 documentary Stranger on the Bridge, which focuses on Jonny's story. Around 20 south London schoolchildren have been invited to the screening at Kensington Palace.
It will be followed by a private discussion between William and Kate and a group of people who have been bereaved by suicide, to share their experiences and the support they have received since.
Both Prince William and Kate are dedicated to raising awareness of mental health issues, including suicide. William is said to have been called out to suicide cases involving young men through his work with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, leading him to want to focus on prevention efforts.
© Photo: Getty ImagesBoth William and Kate are dedicated to raising awareness of mental health issues
A Kensington Palace spokesman said: "The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry are making mental health a major focus of their work in the year ahead. The Duke of Cambridge is particularly keen to better understand the difficult issues around suicide, bullying, and the mental health of young men.
"These are issues he has been exposed to both in his official work with homelessness charities and in his work as an air ambulance pilot."
The royal couple will carry out another day of official engagements together on Friday. They are due to pay a visit to urban youth charity XLP to see the work carried out by their mentoring scheme XL Mentoring, which offers support to young people aged 11-18.
