Kate Middleton calls for end to stigma around mental health 

Kate Middleton calls for end to stigma around mental health

Last Updated Monday, February 16, 2015 10:26AM EST

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has recorded a video message calling for a more open discussion on mental health issues facing children and young people.

The video was recorded in support of the U.K.\'s first Children\'s Mental Health Week.

In it, the duchess says that both she and her husband, Prince William, have seen the that toll bullying, bereveament, and domestic violence can take on young people.

"Without support, the effects of these challenges can be traumatic, leading to serious issues such as anxiety, depression, addiction and self-harm," she said.

"The stigma around mental health means that many children do not get the help that they so badly need. This needs to change."

The duchess says, because of the stigma commonly associated with mental health issues, many children do not get the help that they need.

"This needs to change," she said, noting that one\'s mental health should be given the same consideration and care as physical health.

"No one would feel embarrassed about seeking help for a child if they break their arm, and we really should be equally ready to support a child coping with emotional difficulties."

The duchess has been a patron of the charity Place2Be since 2013. The charity offers emotional and therapeutic services for British students struggling with mental health illnesses.

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