Duke of Sussex: Veterans can make massive difference to public’s mental health

The Duke of Sussex urged members of the Invictus Games Choir to use their experiences on the front line to make a “massive difference” to the public’s mental health.

Harry, who founded the international sporting event for injured or sick military personnel, spoke during a visit to London’s Abbey Road Studios in February.

Alongside Jon Bon Jovi, the duke helped the choir, made up of former servicemen and women from the armed forces, record a charity single in aid of the Games, which were postponed this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In video footage from the visit, the duke said “a huge part of” re-recording Bon Jovi’s track, Unbroken, was that the choir were “once served, always serving”.

One of the 12 singers suggested they were giving back to the military community.

Harry added: “Not just the military community though. Remember the experiences that you guys have had.

“You can now be out in your own community, making a massive difference, because actually, believe it or not, you were given a better toolbox on how to deal with what you have to deal with than a vast majority of civvies.

“So there is this inherent responsibility that stays with you for the rest of your life.

“And I think, especially within the mental health community, everybody always wants to make sure that whatever you’ve been through, you want to make sure no-one else has to go through what you went through.

“Or at least if they have to, then they’ve got the right support. I think that is really important.”

Another member of the choir said there is still “a huge amount of stigma regardless of where you go”.

They added: “So it’s really important that the message … as much as we can, get it out there.

“And obviously it is hard to talk about your own experience, but if it can help somebody else then it’s worth it.”

– Unbroken featuring the Invictus Games Choir is out on Friday, with proceeds going to the Invictus Games Foundation.