Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex is seen prior to the Wheelchair Basketball Finals match between Team Netherlands and Team US

Prince Harryis opening up about how he protects his mental health.

“For much of my life, I have been in the fortunate position of being able to help others,” Harry, 37, says. “As a veteran of conflict, but also simply as a human, I take care of what my mind ingests. Like a digital diet. Cutting out the toxic parts of the online world and the way stories are put in front of us, baiting us, is one way I prioritize my well-being.”

The father of two adds, “I also make sure to talk to people, directly, one to one, about what they’re going through, and try to learn from their experiences and understanding of the world.”

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“Every time I hear that it goes straight to my core,“Prince Harrysays. “I really feel it. I feel it with every hug I get from the competitors themselves or their family members. I feel it when they share with me what it means to see their husband, father, wife or mother simply smile again. Sport is the mechanism. Purpose is the potion. Mindset is the medicine.”

He continues, “Many of these families have been to the darkest places imaginable. While each story is different and unique, the lessons are more relatable to all of us than they might seem. I am proud to watch their recoveries, but even prouder of their service to others. I believe their presence and resilience is quite literally saving more lives than we’ll ever know or hear about.”

Prince Harry.Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty

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“By simply being here and fighting back from some of the darkest experiences known to anyone, you have become role models for everyone at home or in the stands who might be struggling with their emotions or with a mental illness,” he said. “You are showing it’s okay not to be okay. And most importantly, you are showing us all that it’s okay to ask for help.”

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To conclude, he referred to himself as someone who has faced such challenges.

“I’ve been there, you’ve been there and we now need to reach out to those who can never even imagine themselves in that place,” he encouraged. “When you accept a challenge is real, you can have hope. When you understand your vulnerability, you can become strong. When you are brave enough to ask for help, you can be lifted up. You can start living, doing, feeling — not simply surviving. And when you share your story, you can change the world.”

source: people.com