This article discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

Prince Harry and Princess Meghan Markle have announced the launch of a new network aimed at helping parents whose children have been traumatized by social media use.

On Sunday, August 4 (which happened to be the Duchess of Sussex's birthday), the couple gave a rare joint interview with Jane Pauley of CBS Sunday Morning to discuss their newly launched program titled "Parents Network" through the Archwell Foundation

The network is not entirely new; a pilot program was launched two years ago. It now targets parents living in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

While discussing the couple's goal of making social media safer for children and even helping parents who have lost a child to suicide due to cyber bullying, Markle opened up about her own suicidal thoughts when she was an active member of the royal family.

"I think part of our healing journey is to be able to really open up about whatever level of pain or trauma we experience. I've really scraped the surface of what I went through, but I would never want anyone else to feel that way, I would never want anyone else to plan that way, I would never want anyone else to believe that way."

The Duchess of Sussex went on to say that if her decision to share her story and what she has "overcome" will "save someone or encourage someone in her life to really genuinely check in and not assume that everything is okay because it looks good on the outside, then it is worth it is worth it," he said.

"I'll take the hit for that," she added.

Last week, a clip of a previously recorded interview aired before Sunday's full segment. In it, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex also discussed their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, and their desire to protect them at all costs, especially as they grow older and begin to use social media and become vulnerable to cyberbullying.

"Our children are very young, they are 3 and 5 years old. They're great," Markle said. 'But what we want to do as parents is protect them. So when we look at what's happening in the online space, we know there's a lot of work to be done.

"At this point, we've gotten to the point where almost every parent needs to be a first responder," Prince Harry continued. 'Even the best paramedics in the world won't be able to spot the signs of suicide. That is the frightening part of this case."

In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued a recommendation titled Social Media and Youth Mental Health, highlighting evidence that social media is actively harming youth mental health. In addition, the American Psychological Association (APA) also issued its own health advisory, warning of the potential harm from prolonged social media use.

Markle encouraged people to view this issue through the lens of parents who have lost children to cyberbullying.

"Look at it through the lens of 'if it were my daughter' or 'if it were my son. ' If you look through the lens of being a parent, there is no other way but to try to find a solution."