Prince Harry made a powerful and unexpected return to the global mental health stage this week, delivering an emotional message about the crisis facing American men and the urgent need to break the silence surrounding mental health. On October 8, the Duke of Sussex, 41, surprised guests at a Movember reception hosted at the Australian American Association in New York City, marking the beginning of his latest visit to the city alongside Meghan Markle. His appearance came during the unveiling of The Real Face of Men’s Health: USA, a groundbreaking report from the Movember Institute of Men’s Health that explores why more than half of American men—53%—die prematurely and how societal pressures, stigma, and lack of access to care contribute to that alarming statistic.
Addressing a packed room of advocates, researchers, and veterans, Harry drew on his own journey with therapy and his years of experience speaking with servicemen and mental health professionals. “I found myself speaking to many veterans and sitting down with them I realized the silence is killing people,” he said. “Stamping out the stigma globally—we’ve come a long way. But access to therapy is still a massive problem.” His voice carried both urgency and empathy, reflecting the same message that has defined his public mission for nearly a decade: that vulnerability is strength, and seeking help should never be seen as weakness.
Moderated by journalist and author Brooke Baldwin, the event featured a discussion between Prince Harry and Dr. Zac Seidler, Movember’s Global Director of Men’s Health Research, alongside Calvin Abbasi of the ANDRON Project. Together, they unpacked the findings of the new report, which examined mental health disparities, the role of social media in shaping young men’s identity, and the deep cultural barriers that still prevent many from speaking openly about emotional pain. As a British Army veteran and founder of the Invictus Games, Harry spoke from experience about the silent isolation that can take root among men—whether soldiers, professionals, or fathers—who feel they have no one to confide in. “Yet when I speak to men, the same struggles keep coming up,” he reflected. “Which tells me that the weight they carry isn’t uncommon. The biggest barrier is the belief that no one will understand. Loneliness convinces you you’re the only one, which is rarely true.”
Harry’s appearance at the Movember event was just the start of a high-profile week in New York centered around mental health advocacy. He and Meghan Markle are set to attend multiple engagements with Project Healthy Minds, a nonprofit mental health organization that has partnered with the couple’s Archewell Foundation on several initiatives. The Sussexes, who share two children—Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4—will receive the Humanitarians of the Year Award at Project Healthy Minds’ third annual World Mental Health Day Gala on October 9. The event, hosted by Today show anchor Carson Daly, will honor their efforts to promote online safety and emotional wellbeing for families worldwide.
The couple’s work with Project Healthy Minds extends beyond recognition. On Friday, October 10, they will join the organization’s annual World Mental Health Day Festival, where Archewell will co-produce a series of discussions highlighting changemakers in the mental health field. The foundation will also showcase its Lost Screen Memorial, a deeply moving installation featuring photos of young people who lost their lives as a result of social media harm. The exhibit, first unveiled in April during Meghan’s appearance at the 2025 TIME100 Summit, serves as both a memorial and a call to action—one that has become central to the couple’s advocacy for safer online spaces.
In their statement acknowledging the award, Harry and Meghan emphasized how their work has been shaped by their experience as parents. “Working with families and young people to prioritize safety online has been some of the most meaningful work of our lives,” they said. “As parents ourselves, we have been moved to action by the power of their stories and are honored to support them. We’re proud to be long-time partners of Project Healthy Minds as we work together to shine a light on what remains one of the most pressing issues of our time.”
Their trip to New York marks the Sussexes’ first return to the city in six months and comes at a pivotal moment in their growing influence within the global mental health movement. Through Archewell, the couple launched The Parents’ Network in 2023—a support community for families affected by online harms and bullying—which has since expanded across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Their combined efforts reflect a shared belief that digital wellbeing is one of the defining humanitarian challenges of this generation.
Prince Harry’s decision to begin his trip with an event focused on men’s health added an intimate and deeply personal layer to their broader message. Over the past decade, he has consistently used his platform to humanize the struggles that men face—especially veterans and fathers—when confronting depression, trauma, and emotional isolation. His remarks in New York underscored a familiar but urgent truth: that progress in mental health must move beyond awareness to accessibility and cultural change.
As the Duke and Duchess prepare to step back into the spotlight at the Project Healthy Minds Gala, their message remains one of unity and compassion. Whether addressing men suffering in silence or families mourning lives lost to online harm, their advocacy continues to blend personal authenticity with a global purpose. And as Prince Harry’s words echoed through the halls of the Australian American Association that evening, they carried a message that transcends borders: the silence is killing people—but by speaking out, we save each other.
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