Meghan and Harry recognize Mental Health Awareness Month 2023, visiting with a Californian youth group

Meghan and Harry announced through their Archewell website, that in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month 2023, the couple recently visited with a local youth group,  Aha! Santa Barbara . While there, Meghan and Harry learned about the experiences with social media and societal pressures that this group face and heard how it affects their mental well-being. 

Meghan and Harry spent an hour speaking with teens aged 14-18 both "about the opportunities social media can provide for connection and community, as well as the ways in which it also raises issues of insecurity, peer-pressure, and potential for self-harm, among other risks."

AHA! state that their mission is to equip teenagers, educators, and parents with social and emotional intelligence to dismantle apathy, prevent despair, and interrupt hate-based behavior. Since 1999, AHA! has provided social-emotional education to over 20,000 teens and youth care providers.

AHA! work to address what they call their five pillars:

1. Mindfulness - We bring awareness to the present moment without dwelling on past mistakes, and we value our place in this world.
2. Awareness - We regulate the expression of our emotions with consideration and care, and we are conscious of the emotions of others.
3. Connection - We recognize that we are an important part of something bigger and know that we are not alone– that we are in this together.
4. Empathy - We understand and appreciate the thoughts, feelings, and choices of others, and strive to see their point of view.
5. Resilience - We accept that change is part of life, persevere to overcome hardship, and work to nurture our self-image.

Archewell Foundation state that their organization "holds a core belief that mental health is of the utmost importance, and underpins all of our work. We are regularly meeting with young people, parents, and professionals to understand the challenges they may be facing while working together to drive towards long-term solutions on- and offline."