Coinciding with World Suicide Prevention Day, The Prince of Wales was in Cardiff today, where he visited a pioneering new mental health hub.
The hub – being run by the Jac Lewis Foundation at the Principality Stadium in the Welsh capital – is supported by The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales and the Welsh Rugby Union to provide counselling and transport costs to hundreds of people who may be at risk of suicide.
Upon his arrival at the stadium, Prince William was brought out to the pitch where he met with Jesse and Janet Lewis, Jac’s parents, as well as two of Jac’s teammates. The Prince sat down with them to talk privately about Jac and the importance of services like the charity is providing.
The Foundation was set up following the suicide of Jac Lewis, a former Swansea City academy player, in February 2019. He was 27 years old.
JMF seeks to create an environment where mental health is openly discussed, and where individuals feel empowered to seek the help they need across a range of issues like housing, finances and legal issues. The charity wants to ensure rapid support is available to everyone when needed, reducing the stigma around mental health and fostering open culture and dialogue.
Royal Foundation support will enable the hub to operate 1 day per week for the next three years.
Following that conversation, the Royal moved indoors to meet with members of the Welsh Rugby Union, of which he is patron, and Swansea City FC, and the Jac Lewis Foundation CEO. He learnt more about the partnerships and how they have helped and reached more people and also how sport can use its influence and communities to improve mental health and provide vital services.
William knows all about using sport to promote men’s mental wellbeing. In 2019, the Prince partnered with the Football Association on the Head’s Up campaign, which culminated at the 2021 FA Cup Final.
Following his discussion about the partnerships, William met with people who have been helped through the Swansea branch of the foundation. They told the Prince their stories, how they found help through the Foundation, and what life is like for them now. One man told William: ‘It has helped me, I do still have good and bad times but it has really helped. I have a nice flat now and I’ve been so so grateful. I’m so thankful to Jac Lewis foundation because without them I don’t think I’d be here.’
Before he left, the father-of-three joined some of those who work at the foundation to paint stones. chose to paint his read for Wales. Painting is one of the activities the Foundation have at their hubs, and William chose to paint his red for Wales. While painting, he spoke with the staff about the work they do.
Following the visit, Jesse Lewis spoke to the press about the Foundation, explaining that all they ‘wanted to achieve was make sure people had access to mental wellbeing services’, and how the local community helped them to grow into a something that now works across all of South Wales.
No doubt today’s visit will help them to continue to grow.
