Prince William and Kate Middleton are supporting a new £5million initiative to help the UK’s mental health in light of the coronavirus lockdown.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge highlighted guidance from Public Health England which provides tips and support for those looking after their mental wellbeing during this period of self isolation, as well as advice for parents and carers on looking after their children’s wellbeing.
It recommends staying in touch with loved ones via video calls and social media, as well as using the time to learn new hobbies and skills.
It comes as mental health minister Nadine Dorries, who has herself been diagnosed with coronavirus, announced an additional £5m funding to leading mental health charities.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said, 'The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone.
'We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health.
'It is great to see the mental health sector working together with the NHS to help people keep on top of their mental wellbeing.
'By pulling together and taking simple steps each day, we can all be better prepared for the times ahead.'
On Friday, the royal couple took to Instagram to show their 11.4m followers their impressive working-from-home set up at Kensington Palace, London, while shedding light on the work they're doing with organisations to assist the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The behind-the-scenes photos were captioned, 'Self-isolation and social distancing can pose huge challenges to our mental health — in recent weeks the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organisations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time.'
It comes as Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove warned Britons to brace for a ‘significant’ period of lockdown as the country battles to curb the rise of COVID-19 infections and shield the NHS.
Speaking on the Andrew Marr Show, Gove said, 'Everyone is making a sacrifice and I appreciate the scale of that sacrifice. But the reason all of us are making these sacrifices is because all of us will have people whom we love who are at risk from this virus.
'I can’t make an accurate prediction, but everyone does have to prepare for a significant period when these measures are still in place.'
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