The Duchess of Cambridge, née Kate Middleton, has supported the launch of a series of podcasts on children's mental health.
Kate, who is patron of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families, issued a statement backing the initiative in which she said that she and Prince William wouldn't hesitate to get expert support for their children, George and Charlotte, if they need it.
The Duchess of Cambridge is patron of the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
"Throughout my work with family and child support organisations, one thing that has stood out to me time and again is that getting early support for a child who is struggling to cope is the best possible thing we can do to help our children as they grow up. Knowing this, both William and I feel very strongly that we wouldn’t hesitate to get expert support for George and Charlotte if they need it," the statement read.
"One in three adults still say they would be embarrassed to seek help for their child's mental health. No parent would fail to call the doctor if their child developed a fever, yet some children are tackling tough times without the support that can help them because the adults in their life are scared to ask. It doesn't need to be like this.
Kate said she and William would not hesitate to get expert support for their children if they needed it
She continued: "I hope that this excellent series of podcasts by the Anna Freud Centre will go some way to help families overcome that fear of what happens next if they look for professional support. They illustrate that many of the therapies are actually very simple and practical steps that include the whole family to help children make sense of the world around them. They show how with the right help, children have a good chance of overcoming their issues while they are still young, and can have the bright future they deserve.
"Please do listen, and share them with your friends and family and let's change the way we all talk to each other about our mental health."
The podcasts are available via the Anna Freud account on i-tunes and Soundcloud, and can be accessed via the Anna Freud Centre Homepage: www.annafreud.org.