The Duke of Cambridge has spoken candidly about how seeing people die when he was an air ambulance pilot left him traumatized for “ weeks ” and felt the world was a “ darker, blacker place. ”
Based on his own experiences speaking to frontline workers dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince William, 38, admitted that his work regularly affected his ‘family life’ and said he was ‘really concerned’ about the impact the staff is now having in seeing ‘such much grief, trauma and death. ‘
The Royal Family, who worked with doctors and paramedics to provide emergency medical assistance to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, spoke out in a video conversation with frontline workers and counselors on bereavement assistance.
William, who was accompanied on the call by his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, 39, who put on a stylish display in a gray blazer with black collar detail, said, ‘Some of it I noticed from my previous spell flying in the sky . ambulance with the team.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge heard on Wednesday about the crucial mental health care provided to frontline workers during the pandemic through Hospice UK’s Just ‘B’ counseling and bereavement support line.
In the photo, top row (LR): – Carly Kennard, Jules Lockett, Conal Devitt and Manal Sadik. Middle Row (LR): – Phil Spencer, Tony Collins and Caroline Francis
‘When you see so many deaths and so much grief, it does affect how you see the world. It’s very interesting what you said about being able to see things in a different light.
‘I think you said you think everyone around you is going to die, that’s what really worries me on the front line right now.
‘That you are so under pressure and so under pressure right now and you see such high levels of grief, trauma, death that it affects your own life and your own family life because it is always there.
‘You’re so drawn to it, and everyone is, it’s only natural that that would happen.
But that’s what I think a lot of the audience doesn’t understand when you’re surrounded by that level of intense trauma and grief and grief.
“Really, it stays with you, at home it stays with you for weeks at a time, doesn’t it, and you see the world in a much more, somewhat depressed, dark, blacker place.”
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were last seen with their children attending a special pantomime performance at London’s Palladium Theater in December (pictured)
A general view of the front of Anmer Hall on the Sandringham Estate on January 13, 2013 in King’s Lynn
The royal couple both stressed that it is vital that frontline personnel – including the police, who suffer from the stigma of having to enforce lockdown restrictions – seek support at this critical time and that the stigma surrounding seeking help for their cleric health must end.
Prince William continued: “This is an unprecedented time that we are all dealing with. I think that really needs to be nailed down now is that this is nothing before that anyone has ever seen, especially this third wave that we’re going through right now.
‘People need to understand that you are normal people doing a brilliant job in a very, very difficult time and I hope this service gives people the outlet they need.
“I’m afraid, as you said, that you are all so busy caring for the rest that you won’t take enough time to take care of yourself and we won’t see the consequences for some time to come.”
William spoke with Phil Spencer, Cleveland Police welfare inspector, who told the royal couple about the frustration many police officers felt at being on the sharp end of the pandemic for handing out fines to people breaking strict lockdown rules.
He said: ‘Emergency care is tough at the best of times, police are really tough at the best of times, but throw in the pandemic …
‘We are all the same and don’t get me wrong, and the NHS are also absolute heroes and rightfully so and my heart goes out to London Ambulance Service and the rest of them, but we [the police service] are sometimes seen as the bad guys – who can’t do good if they do something wrong – who have to impose fines and pass the law. ‘
The Duchess of Cambridge (pictured) has said she thinks of workers on the front lines of the pandemic as she celebrates a ‘very different’ birthday. Pictured during a royal train journey in December
He warned, “Maybe we’ll have some broken down policemen and emergency services down the line when this is all gone.
‘As we are too busy protecting the most vulnerable people in communities, but hand to heart, I think our service is the most vulnerable people right now and it is terrible to see. We need so much help. ‘
William replied, “This is an unprecedented time that all of you are dealing with. This is like nothing before that humans have ever seen, especially this third wave that we are going through now.
‘People need to understand that you are normal people doing a brilliant job in a really difficult time. You are all so busy taking care of everyone that you are not taking the time to take care of yourself. ‘
The Duchess of Cambridge also asked frontline workers what more could be done to convince their colleagues of the importance of putting themselves first in mental health assistance.
Kate said, “There has never been a more important time to have these kinds of services, so I am so glad they are being used.”
Wednesday’s call also highlighted how William and Kate’s Royal Foundation helped provide financial support through the Covid-19 Response Fund.
The foundation partners with NHS England, NHS Improvement and the Department of Health and Social Care to help fund Hospice UK’s Just ‘B’ line of support, which supports NHS staff, social workers, carers and all relief workers.