On Sunday, Meghan Markle made a statement that shocked everyone, even Oprah– she “just didn’t want to be alive anymore.” Markle and her husband, Harry’s, two-hour interview with Oprah shattered norms of what the royal family should and should not do and talk about.
The couple got married in 2017, and since then, they’ve broken practically every norm for the royals–or at least that’s how the press conveyed it. In the interview, Markle revealed that after her and Harry stepped down as senior members of the royal family after their son Archie’s birth, they were essentially ousted from the family. Beforehand, they were told that Archie would not be given a title, security, and questions were raised about how dark his skin would be. During her pregnancy filled with criticism from the firm, the institution, and the media, Markle experienced an extreme amount of loneliness as she was not given freedom to do what she wanted–the image of being a royal became more important than her mental health, and she was not given protection either from the media.
During all this time, she was being ridiculed and criticized by the media. Sure, every royal has faced rude comments. But the ones directed at Meghan were more rude and malicious than ever before–and most of it was because of her biracial identity. Because of all this criticism, loneliness, and lack of protection, Markle said that she “just didn’t see another solution” than suicide.
While this is a shocking statement, at the same time, it’s not that shocking at all. Mental health struggles can affect anyone–famous or not famous, rich or poor. By being such a strong, independent figure who broke away from such a powerful family for the sake of her family and her mental health, Meghan proved the importance of prioritizing your mental health. Meghan could have done what every other royal has done in response to the pressures the role brings and let it be–but she says herself that she may not be alive today had she done that. The hateful element of racism incorporated into the media criticizing Markle gave her a different experience than what any other royal had experienced– so she had to save herself.
By being open about her experience with mental health and suicidal thoughts, Meghan Markle is becoming part of the change around the discussion of mental health. She’s normalized talking about mental health, even in places of power and privilege. She’s shown the public that when they’re having thoughts like hers, they need to ask for help, and do anything they can to get it like she did. At the end of the day, no role in your life will be important if you’re not alive for it.