Entertainment
ITV responds to mental health charity over concerns about Piers Morgan’s attack on Meghan Markle’s suicidal comments
ITV has responded to Mind, after the mental health charity confirmed it was in talks with the channel after Piers Morgan for questioned Meghan Markle for revealing she has previously felt suicidal.
Meghan addressed her mental health struggles during a bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey, breaking down in tears and saying she ‘just didn’t want to be alive anymore’ while pregnant with son Archie.
Piers reacted to the interview on Good Morning Britain and said he was ‘sickened’ by what he had watched and that he ‘didn’t believe’ Meghan had suicidal thoughts.
ITV has since released a statement saying: ‘ITV is committed to mental health and wellbeing and working with our charity partners on Britain Get Talking, which is about encouraging people to talk about their mental health.
‘It is very important that if anyone has suicidal thoughts that they should always speak out and be listened to.’
Mind – a charity that supports those struggling with their mental health – previously said it was left ‘disappointed’ by Piers’ reaction.
The charity’s statement read: ‘We were disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morgan’s comments on not believing Meghan’s experiences about suicidal thoughts today.
It continued: ‘We are in conversations with ITV about this at the moment. If you or anyone you know is feeling impacted by the discussions that have taken place today, please reach out for support using the signposts in the thread below.’
‘It’s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.’
ITV, which runs a nationwide mental wellness campaign titled Britain Get Talking, faced backlash from viewers following Piers’ comments.
Appearing on Good Morning Britain earlier today, Piers dramatically walked off the set in the midst of a row with Alex Beresford over Piers’ criticism of Meghan and Prince Harry.
Piers also said on the show: ‘When we talked about this yesterday I said as an all encompassing thing I don’t believe what Meghan Markle is saying generally in this interview and I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said. But let me just state for the record on my position on mental illness and on suicide.
‘On mental illness and suicide these are clearly extremely serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help they need every time. Every time. And if they belong to an institution like the Royal family and they go and seek that help they should absolutely be given it.’
He added: ‘It’s not for me to question if she felt suicidal, I am not in her mind and that is for her to say. My real concern was a disbelief frankly and I’m prepared to be proven wrong on this and if I’m wrong it is a scandal, that she went to a senior member of the Royal household and told them she was suicidal and was told she could not have any help because it would be a bad look for the family.
‘If that is true a) that person should be fired and b) The Royal family have serious questions that need to be answered.’
It comes after a mental health campaigner praised Meghan after she revealed life as a royal drove her to suicidal thoughts. He also criticised Piers and others on social media who said they didn’t believe Meghan’s revelations.
While speaking to Oprah, Meghan also claimed a member of the family ‘raised concerns’ about ‘how dark’ her son Archie’s skin would be during the bombshell interview.
The interview originally aired on CBS in the US and was shown on ITV last night. It’s available to watch now on the ITV Hub.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
Need support? Contact the Samaritans
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
Harry and Meghan’s Oprah interview: Key moments
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have spoken to Oprah Winfrey in a bombshell interview about their decision to step back as senior working members of the Royal Family.
Here are the key points from the interview, which UK viewers can watch at 9pm on ITV on Monday, March 8.
- Meghan says it was Kate who made her cry over flower girls, not other way round
- Meghan says Harry was told there were ‘concerns how dark’ Archie would be
- Harry and Meghan reveal the gender of their baby due in summer
- Meghan sobs as she says pressures of royal life drove her to the verge of suicide
- Prince Charles stopped taking Harry’s calls after he quit Royal Family
- Harry says Meghan saved him from being ‘trapped’ like Prince Charles and Prince William are
- Princess Diana would be ‘sad and angry about how this has panned out’
- Meghan and Harry share adorable new video of son Archie at the beach
- Harry confirms terrible rift with William and says their relationship is now just ‘space’
- Queen ‘ghosted Harry during Megxit talks and got aide to say she was too busy’
