Prince Harry Launches Major Project Aimed At Helping Military Servicemen And Veterans

Prince Harry is launching his first major initiative since stepping down from being a senior member of the royal family. The project is called HeadFIT, and it provides U.K. military personnel with round-the-clock access to mental healthcare and advice, People reports.

The new online platform made its debut Monday morning. HeadFIT was first announced by Harry in October 2017 and was originally started by The Royal Foundation’s mental health campaign Heads Together. Harry, Prince William, and Kate Middleton launched Heads Together in 2016.

“HeadFIT has been almost three years in the making, and I am extremely grateful for everyone who has been on this journey with us,” Harry said in a statement about the platform.

The program was developed in association with the U.K. Ministry of Defense and mental health experts at King’s College London. It includes tools for breathing exercises, relaxation, and improved body posture specifically designed for military personnel who are currently serving or who have retired. The goal of HeadFIT was to create a program that could be easily integrated into a service member’s life and routines.

“Everyone who has worked on it, to create what we have today, should be incredibly proud and excited for the impact it will have,” the duke said in his statement.

Harry served in the U.K. armed forces for 10 years and did two tours in Afghanistan.

“I’ve long believed the military community should lead the way for the rest of society. For too long we have been waiting for problems to arise and then reacting to them. HeadFIT is a proactive approach to mental fitness, focusing on our own potential to increase our performance, using proven methods in sport science,” he continued.

He described the program as helping service members be the best they can be. The statement suggested the program’s goal is to help soldiers be at their peak every day. Harry said HeadFIT will give users the mental resilience that many professional athletes have.

The news of HeadFIT comes as Harry is quarantining with Meghan Markle and their son Archie in Los Angeles. Since they moved to the city, the two have tried to keep out of the spotlight as much as possible. Thus far, they have only been sighted doing charity work, delivering meals to those in need around the city. The food delivery is part of their partnership with Project Angel Food, which is working to support those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.