Meghan Markle Opens Up About Suicidal Thoughts In Candid ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ Interview: “I Would Never Want Someone Else To Feel That Way”

Meghan Markle understands the power of opening up to others, and how it could just save someone’s life.

She and Prince Harry sat down with anchor Jane Pauley on the most recent installment of CBS Sunday Morning, where they discussed the launch of The Parents’ Network, a new part of their Archewell Foundation, per Page Six.

As noted on Sunday’s (Aug. 4) CBS Sunday Morning spot, Markle had opened up to Oprah Winfrey during a 2021 interview about her struggles with suicidal ideation, revealing that she “was really ashamed to say it at the time, and ashamed to have to admit it to Harry especially,” citing how “much loss he suffered.”

“But I knew that if I didn’t say it, that I would do it, and I just didn’t want to be alive anymore,” she continued at the time.

According to The Parents’ Network’s website, the initiative “act[s] as a support network for other parents and caregivers whose children and families have been gravely impacted by social media harms.”

“We share our stories. We share our resources. We take action. Together,” the description continues.

While speaking with Pauley, Markle highlighted how sharing her own experiences with bullying and thoughts of suicide may help others enduring the same struggles.

“There is a through line I think, and when you’ve been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey — certainly part of mine — is being able to be really open about it,” she reflected. “I haven’t really scraped the surface on my experience, but I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way and I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans and I would never want someone else to not be believed.”

“If me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything’s okay, then that’s worth it,” she added. “I’ll take a hit for that.”

Earlier on in the interview, Markle brought up she and Harry’s “amazing” children, Archie (5) and Lilibet (3), highlighting that “all you want to do as parents is protect them.”

“So as we can see what’s happening in the online space, we know that there’s a lot of work to be done there, and we’re just happy to be able to be a part of change for good,” she added.

Harry also said that “at this point, we’ve got to the stage where almost every parent needs to be a first responder,” and noted that “even the best first responders in the world wouldn’t be able to tell the signs of possible suicide.”

“That is the terrifying piece of this,” he shared.

If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 988.