Duke and Duchess attend event to mark mental health day

London Evening Standard/LondonThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge told young people ‘talking about mental health is so important’ as they visited a north-west London college to mark World Mental Health Day.Kate and William visited Harrow College to meet and hear stories from those who have overcome mental health problems and are now helping others to do the same.The visit started with a group of young women explaining their own personal experiences and the work they now do with anti-stigma campaign Time to Change.William asked the group what made them want to get involved and help others.Nikki Mattocks, 18, replied: “For me it is because, for years - I have experience of hearing voices - and I never really felt there was a positive role model out there.“When I said that I was hearing voices, I was told that I must be a murderer.“For me it is really important for people to know that we are just normal, average people.”The couple also spoke to Emma Peacock, 19, about the struggle of telling her family about her diagnosis of bipolar at the age of 16.Peacock said: “I was so scared my family would worry, you always want to protect your family so I found it really hard.”