‘I am deeply grateful’: Archbishop of Canterbury thanks Prince William for helping him pull through a battle with depression
- Justin Welby revealed Prince William helped him with his mental health struggles
- The Archbishop of Canterbury said he felt the world was turning more gloomy
- But the Duke of Cambridge encouraged Archbishop Welby to seek help
- William is set to speak about his mental health in a BBC documentary this week
The Archbishop of Canterbury yesterday thanked Prince William for helping him pull through his recent battle with depression.
Justin Welby said that the prince ‘encouraged him to seek help’.
It came as William took part in the Church’s weekly online service. He has also spoken on mental health for a BBC documentary to be broadcast this week.
Josh Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury (pictured), revealed that Prince William helped him pull through a recent battle with depression
The Archbishop said the Duke of Cambridge (pictured) convinced him to seek help for his issues and hopes that others can be encouraged to do the same
The Archbishop told the Sunday Times: ‘I am deeply grateful to His Royal Highness for speaking publicly about mental health and hope it might encourage others who are suffering alone to seek help and support.
‘It encouraged me to seek help when I was struggling, help that was effective.’
Archbishop Welby, who is the son of two alcoholics, and who suffered the loss of his seven-month-old daughter in a car crash, has acknowledged his own struggles with mental health in the past.
Last week, he told the BBC that he had experienced ‘an overwhelming sense the world is getting more and more difficult and gloomy’.
The Archbishop said last week that he felt the world was becoming more gloomy and was becoming more narcissistic
He added: ‘You turn inwards on yourself a lot. You become, frankly, narcissistic.
‘And when you have good friends or family who spot it, they can say “might it not be an idea to talk to someone.” Which I did.
‘There is nothing pathetic about it. It is no more pathetic than being ill in any other way. And we just need to get over that.’