Kate Middletonis supporting students and their mental health.
On Wednesday, the Princess of Wales visited a university to see how students were settling in a few after the new semester started.
The outing came one day after World Mental Health Day, which sawKate give a speech about the importance of mental wellbeingin young people. Kate and husband Prince William hosted a forum and a series of workshops with young people to mark World Mental Health Day on Tuesday.
Continuing their work in the mental health space, the couple set out on solo outings on Wednesday, with Kate, 41, traveling to Nottingham, and William, 41, highlighting the wellbeing of emergency service workers in Milton Keynes.
Princess Kate meets students and staff at Nottingham Trent University today.Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
Kate’s visit to Nottingham Trent University, which, along with its neighbor in the English Midlands, Nottingham University, encourages proactive mental health management for its students. During the outing, Kate, who is an alumna of the University of St. Andrews (where she also met William!), joined a Freshers Fayre-style exhibition (the welcome event for new arrivals at the college) to meet with students and colleagues who have been helping students with their mental health. She then took part in wellbeing sessions.
Kate Middleton meets students in Nottingham.Chris Jackson/Getty
The mom of three held a discussion with three students about peer-to-peer mentoring and then participated in a “step in circle,” which is part of the university’s “Welcome Workshop.” It is designed to encourage students to share experiences to help them build confidence, proactively manage their well-being, and raise awareness of the wide range of support networks available to them.
Kate also learned about an initiative the university uses to measure a student’s engagement with their course. When a student stops engaging, this can be a sign that the student is struggling and it will prompt the university or tutors to reach out and help them find the right support.
“The Princess is passionate about ensuring young people have the right tools in place to take care of their mental wellbeing, especially in relation to understanding and managing their own emotions,” her office at Kensington Palace said. “She is also focused on encouraging young people to build key protective factors such as healthy relationships and communities around them which will help them to lay stronger foundations as they move through life.”
Princess Kate at Nottingham Trent University, on Wednesday.Chris Jackson/Getty
As she was in Nottingham, William headed to the Milton Keynes Blue Light Hub to showcase the importance of supporting the mental health of emergency responders. As a former air ambulance pilot, William experienced first-hand some of the difficulties that the emergency teams face and has advocated for many years for emergency service workers to be equipped with the support and the skills to protect their mental health and build their resilience.
Princess Kate meets students in Nottingham, on Wednesday.Chris Jackson/Getty
The prince met a group of young people, including Blue Light mental health champions and volunteers, who have recently joined the emergency and search and rescue services and spoke to them about the challenges they face in the early stages of their careers about the challenges.
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Prince William in Milton Keynes.Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty
Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty
It is one of the first purpose-built combined fire, police and ambulance premises in the country. Collaboration between the three services was at the forefront of the design, which encourages fire, police and ambulance colleagues to work together at every opportunity to ensure they are supporting each other and providing the best possible service to the community.
Prince William in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.Joe Giddens - WPA Pool/Getty
Wednesday’s outings were the latest in a series of mental health initiatives for the royal couple this week. They continue on Thursday.
source: people.com
