The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry have launched their new campaign to end stigma around mental health. The Heads Together campaign will see them working in partnership with inspiring charities to change the national conversation on mental wellbeing.

We are delighted to have been chosen as one of the campaign's charity partners.  We had an incredible day at the launch and were SO excited to show the The Royals our work - what an amazing endorsement as The Duke said he wishes Kate and he'd had our Baby Buddy app when Prince George was a baby.  

The Duke also reveals in the video below the trick that he and The Duchess used to get Prince George to stop crying!

Reducing stigma and encouraging conversation

Their Royal Highnesses are keen to build on the great work that is already taking place across the country, to ensure that people feel comfortable with their everyday mental wellbeing, feel able to support their friends and families through difficult times, and that stigma no longer prevents people getting the help they need.

The campaign launch at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London showcased the innovative work of the Heads Together charity partners who have achieved so much in tackling stigma, raising awareness, and providing vital help for people with mental health challenges. The team covers a wide range of mental health issues that are close to The Duke and Duchess and Prince Harry's passions. They are:

·      Anna Freud Centre

·      Best Beginnings

·      CALM – The Campaign Against Living Miserably

·      Contact (a military mental health coalition)

·      Mind

·      Place2Be

·      The Mix

·      YoungMinds

Speaking at the launch The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry set out their ambitions for the Heads Together campaign:

The Duke of Cambridge

“Through our work with young people, emergency response, homeless charities, and with veterans, we have seen time and time again that unresolved mental health problems lie at the heart of some of our greatest social challenges.” 

The Duchess of Cambridge

“Too often, people feel afraid to admit that they are struggling with their mental health. This fear of judgment stops people from getting the help they need, which can destroy families and end lives. Heads Together wants to help everyone feel much more confident with their everyday mental health, and to have the practical tools to support their friends and family.”

Prince Harry

“The Heads Together campaign wants to involve all of you. We're already working with our partner charities and thousands of people to change the way that people think about mental health. We do not want prejudice and fear to stand in the way of people getting the help they need to cope with life. As the year progresses, the three of us – working with all of you in this room and others who will join us along the way – want to come up with practical ways of providing everyone who needs help with the right support and care. We want to build on the great work that others are already doing, but make it even more ambitious. By putting our heads together, we can all make a big difference.”

The Duke of Cambridge

“But first, Heads Together wants to get people talking. The more we talk about mental health, the more normal the topic becomes, and the more we feel able to open up and seek support. By asking for help, by telling a friend we have a problem, by asking someone else how they feel – by having a conversation – we take the first step to feeling better about ourselves – and the first step to being able to cope better with the ups and downs of life. This is relevant to everyone.

“So let's all get our heads together and let's change the conversation, from one of silence and shame to one of optimism and support. Thank you for joining us at the start of this exciting journey.”

Heads Together will be open for other organisations to join in the months ahead and will be supported by The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Best Beginnings and Heads Together

Best Beginnings are honoured to have been chosen as one of the partner charities in the Heads Together campaign. Alison Baum, our founder and CEO said: “At Best Beginnings we are passionate about collaboration and we feel enormously proud, having been selected as one of Heads Together’s chosen charities to not only help destigmatise mental health but to promote the resources and support that is available in our free Baby Buddy app for parents and parents to be. Together we can make a difference for future generations.”

Thank you to everyone who supported on the stand, including TV doctor Dr Ranj Singh, presenter Charlie Webster, model Abbey Clancy (pictured above with Alison and The Duchess of Cambridge) and a wonderful group of mums.

Josh Baum demonstrates our Baby Buddy app:

And The Duchess tries it out for herself!

The highlight of our stand was a giant iPhone (with thanks to Giant iTab). The larger than life phone demonstrated the features of our Baby Buddy app, such as choosing the skin colour, hair styles, clothing, baby bump and even the Heads Together headbands. We also had a giant iPad on display which featured parents sharing their mental health challenges - a 20 second infommercial which is soon to be distributed through Life Channel to surgeries nationwide, and facts on how Best Beginnings is positively impacting parents.

Alison was delighted to explain the work of Best Beginnings to the Duke of Cambridge (who also donned a Baby Buddy sticker):

He then went on to sample the features in our app:

Prince Harry selects his Baby Buddy app sticker!

And finds someone to stick his sticker to!

2017 Virgin Money London Marathon

Heads Together also has the huge privilege of being the 2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Charity of the Year, providing a positive platform for energetic and positive fundraising and awareness. Next year, hundreds of runners will hit the streets of London to help end stigma on mental health for good.

Best Beginnings is delighted to have been given fifteen places at the London Marathon - we'd love it if you became one of our runners - to find out more and apply visit our events page.  You'll be running with our fantastic Best Beginners and Heads Together Ambassador Shereece Foster who you can sponsor here!

Thank you so much to everyone who continues to support us, and we are very excited to be part of this amazing #HeadsTogether campaign!