Kate: Mental Health Charities and Patronages

[marine2109]

http://royalista.com/84683/video-asking-for-help-is-not-a-sign-of-weakness-says-kate/

[wannable]

The visit was private, when public the norm is Royal correspondents sign up with the communication press secretary - in this case Jason from KP, they then can follow Kate and write what they saw, heard, etc. with what she encountered with parents, children, mentors, specialists. Hence my previous opinion. Backup information of complex issue of mental health can be found in the net for better understanding.

[wannable]

Limabeany there is the place and moment to carry out awareness, fundraising, etc. she and the royals do so. Place2Be get that, 100 women hedge funding, as an example.

Apples and oranges, a Kate video with targeted children with mental health issues will trigger investigative journalism to create another story of who are the parents...it's not going to happen. Again weigh the consequences, the aftermath. It's all good for the moment, but the end product effect is long term, what if of child and parents is what matters.

[TLLK]

Weighing minor age with cancer vs mental health, the later involves deep family issues that triggered it, the sensible thing to do is consent from the parents who are part of the equation. Not going to happen.

Creating awareness is good in my books, disclosing children with it is not, keep it private, parents will be trolled.

While I understand the reason for having children in some videos, I can see why the video filmed at hospital did not have child patients appear in it. The press was not invited to this visit nor photos taken while she was there most likely because the doctors and therapists believe it would not be appropriate for their patients' well being along with parents' requests for privacy. There were still photos included from Place2Be's award show that featured children. Kate's last video message for Child Bereavement didn't have grieving family members featured as that IMO would have been highly insensitive.

[TLLK]

IMO the photos from the Place2Be awards were appropriate. To request that patients from the Bethlem and Mudsley hospital participate would likely met with resistance from the families and staff  due to the nature of their mental/emotional health.

Those who requested that she do the video message would have had their input and this video is IMO no different than most where a member of the BRF participates:Royal looks at camera and reads message with the occasional film or still photograph images included.

[Canuck]

I'm surprised there's criticism that Kate should have made a video full of children with mental illnesses, given how much criticism there was when this visit became public knowledge that it was terrible for Kate to be "using" these kids for PR.   :orchid:

This wasn't the one and only video ever created to discuss children's issues.  It was specifically a video of Kate encouraging people to think about mental health and seek out resources.  Like the vast majority of Royal PSAs, it was her speaking to a camera.  I think it was a nice touch to do it in a classroom rather than, as with most Royal videos, somewhere in the palace.  Including pictures of kids receiving awards from Place2Be was also a nice touch, a way of recognizing them again. 

It really doesn't matter what Kate does, that vile bayou buzz woman will find something terrible to say about it no matter what.  I prefer to focus on the message in Kate's video, as that's surely more important than whether she managed to find a completely criticism-proof way of delivering it (in itself an impossible task).

[Macrobug]

There is little chance that children hospitalized for mental health issues are going to be featured in a video.  Contraindicated for almost all treatment plans. 

Approximately half of the young people admitted to our unit have psychosis. Others have problems relating to their mood, often posing a risk to themselves. We are also able to admit young people with a variety of other psychiatric or neurodevelopmental disorders, or where there is diagnostic uncertainty.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Maudsley Hospital

The video was for Mental Health Week for Place2Be.  And there were photos of children from Place2Be in the video.  I don't see why there is an issue.

Sarah Whalen is a bitter, shallow, sneaky writer with a dubious work history.  Any google search on her brings up even more questions.  And her writing shows  poor reading comprehension and lack of understanding of how the British Royal Family functions.  And how the British Parliament works.

[tiaras]

This was more like a PSA not a short story video  :shrug:
I feel uncomfortable with seeing strangers kids paraded around for publicity, unless they are actors.

[Macrobug]

It was a PSA of sorts.  When it comes to mental illness I, too, feel uncomfortable with the idea of those children being in a video.  These children are so vulnerable and there is nothing about being in a video that is helpful towards their recovery or treatment

[tiaras]

And the target audience is adults so it's best the message is being sent by an adult, rather than little children who already had a hard time convincing people they need help.

I liked this video from the moment I watched it Imo this is one of the best vids she's made.

[TLLK]

Good points from each of you @tiaras, @Canuck , and @Macrobug. IMHO to have children/teens who are currently having to receive treatment in a hospital setting being filmed would be in their best interest.

It is possible that Place2Be consulted their own mental health experts as well as the parents regarding their children's participation in this PSA and met with "no" from both groups.

[cinrit]

I'm trying to remember other videos released by other Royals.  Aren't most of them of the particular Royal only?

Cindy

[cinrit]

This is different though, it is for a specific charity, I expected a greater showcasing of the charity and is employees. I appreciate that others are happy it is showcasing only Kate and that is fine. 

While Place2Be is mentioned, the video is in support of Mental Health Week.

Cindy

[TLLK]

I'm trying to remember other videos released by other Royals.  Aren't most of them of the particular Royal only?

Cindy

AFAIK it's typically just the royal themselves. The only exceptions I can think of are when Charles and William made the illegal trade video or when Harry and Co. did the Invictus poem video.
Double post auto-merged: February 23, 2015, 12:58:23 AM

This is different though, it is for a specific charity, I expected a greater showcasing of the charity and is employees. I appreciate that others are happy it is showcasing only Kate and that is fine.

If Place2Be made the request this must be the video that they wanted. Their royal patron making a public service type of announcement regarding the Mental Health Week.

[tiaras]

But it wasn't a campaign video it was more or less along the lines of a PSA. And Kate seemed much more at ease than the other ones she's filmed, no hair touching, or stuttering etc due to nervouseness, I think that's an improvement. :thumbsup:

[TLLK]

Considering that it's been less than a month since the visit and even less time since the video was aired, I'm not sure that any real data could have been collected. :)

IMO A Place 2 Be and other mental health organizations will consider if there will be an increase in parents/guardians/ requesting mental health services for their child in the 2015 year. They'll likely be monitoring if schools/pediatricians or counselors are making more referrals for services to be provided.

[Macrobug]

Action on Addiction - Action on Addiction

[TLLK]

@Macrobug-Do you know which other charity it is joining?

[Macrobug]

The link didn't work.  I am on my iPhone at present and having problems.  Maybe this may work

We are delighted to have merged with @COAP_tweets (Children of Addicted Parents and People) actiononaddiction.org.uk/COAP @Place2Be pls rt

Action on Addiction merge with COAP (Children of Addicted Parents and People)

02 April 2015



Action on Addiction has merged with COAP (Children of Addicted Parents and People)

COAP is an online community for young people living with a family member's addiction to drugs, alcohol or behaviour such as gambling.  Over 5,000 messages have been posted by young people from all over the UK and worldwide to the message boards.

COAP will retain its name and operate as part of Action on Addiction's For Families division, which responds to the needs of anyone personally affected by another person's addiction.

The online dimension of COAP appeals to young people who may be reluctant to talk to friends, teachers etc., but may be willing to open up to other young people in similar situations and exchange support.

At least 1.3 million children are living with parents who misuse alcohol and drugs and these children are seven times more likely to develop problems themselves.  Many are growing up in chaotic environments, and some may be physically and emotionally neglected, if not at serious risk of harm.

Nick Barton, Chief Executive of Action on Addiction said, "We are delighted to welcome COAP to the Action on Addiction fold.  The online service will enhance the reach of our support for children and young people affected by parental addictions and will complement our M-PACT (Moving Parents And Children Together) programme.  Supporting these children and young people is important in its own right but it also makes a contribution to prevention."

About COAP
Children of Addicted Parents and People (COAP) was founded by Emma Spiegler in 2006, to help establish connections between young people, mutually affected by parental and family drug and alcohol abuse, and other addictions such as gambling.
COAP offers a welcoming, safe, and supportive online community which continues to grow; letting young people know they are not alone in their experiences.
For many young people the current path may seem to be one of loneliness, despair, and confu-sion.  Through COAP's message boards, it has come to learn just how resilient, determined, and hopeful young people can be when faced with, what seems like, such a hopeless situation.

COAP won the Anne Frank Award in 2008, launched its free online counselling service in 2009 and gained charitable status in March

[TLLK]

Thank you Macrobug! Sounds like two groups can now use their combined resources to help more of the population suffering from various addictions.

[HistoryGirl]

^Always a good thing.

[tiaras]

"Prisoner Cell Block HRH: Duchess of Cambridge has made a secret visit to HMP Send today to meet women prisoners suffering from addiction."

@RE_DailyMail

Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton makes secret visit to women's jail HMP Send Surrey to meet inmates battling alcohol and drug addiction | Daily

MP Send currently operates as a closed Female Training and Resettlement Prison and has an operational capacity of 282.
The RAPt drug and alcohol treatment unit has been running at Send since 2000 and houses 20 women prisoners.
Unusually, Kensington Palace released a statement from the Duchess after the visit.
Many will see it as a clear attempt to establish her credentials in tackling more 'gritty' issues as part of her public work.
It said: 'I was reminded today how addictions lie at the heart of so many social issues and how substance misuse can play such destructive role in vulnerable people's lives. I saw again today that a failure to intervene early in life to tackle mental health problems and other challenges can have profound consequences for people throughout their lives.
'I am grateful to the women I met for sharing their difficult personal stories with me. It is encouraging to learn how organisations like RAPt are offering specialist support to help people break the cycle of addiction and look forward to a positive and crime free life.'


- Duchess of Cambridge

[wannable]

👏🏻 👍🏻

[TLLK]

Glad to see that programs like the one described exist in a UK prison. Without treatment it is far to easy for vulnerable people to return to the hell of addiction.

Kate Duchess of Cambridge is effortlessly elegant as she visits women's prison | Royal | News | Daily Express

[Curryong]

Yes, the RAPt programme sounds absolutely terrific and it's a pity it can't be expanded to male jails. I'm sure addiction sends many down the wrong path to serving lengthy sentences in prison.