Piers Morgan Condemned By Mental Health Charity Over Meghan Markle Comments

The organisation has said it is "in conversations with ITV" about the matter.
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The leading mental health charity Mind has said it is in the middle of talks with ITV, following comments from Piers Morgan about Meghan Markle during Mondayā€™s edition of Good Morning Britain.

After saying there was a time she ā€œdidnā€™t want to be alive anymoreā€, Meghan also told Oprah: ā€œI said that I needed to go somewhere to get help. And I said that Iā€™d never felt this way before. I need to go somewhere. And I was told that I couldnā€™t, because it wouldnā€™t be good for the institution.ā€

The following morning, Piers said: ā€œIā€™m sorry, I donā€™t believe a word she says.ā€

While Susanna Reid shared her shock at Piersā€™ lack of sympathy, he continued: ā€œI wouldnā€™t believe her if she read me a weather report, and the fact that sheā€™s fired up this onslaught against our royal family, I think is contemptible.ā€

ā€˜Anyone who says they were left feeling suicidal, you have to feel sympathy for them.ā€™ @susannareid100 responds to @piersmorganā€™s question of whether she feels ā€˜genuine sympathy for Meghanā€™ after watching that interview.

Watch the full interview on @ITV at 9pm. pic.twitter.com/lht1Xh572p

ā€” Good Morning Britain (@GMB) March 8, 2021

Mind has now issued a statement condemning Piersā€™ behaviour, and revealing that theyā€™ve been in contact with ITV about the matter.

They said: ā€œWe were disappointed and concerned to see Piers Morganā€™s comments on not believing Meghanā€™s experiences about suicidal thoughts today.

ā€œItā€™s vital that when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health that they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy. We are in conversations with ITV about this at the moment.ā€

The charity also shared links anyone experiencing mental health struggles can use for help.

pic.twitter.com/nUGiS1jR20

ā€” Mind (@MindCharity) March 8, 2021

If you're struggling with suicidal feelings at the moment, please reach out for support. You can:

šŸ”¹Use our "Get Help Now" tool > https://t.co/tq0WP1sBQl
šŸ”¹Contact the Samaritans > 116 123

ā€” Mind (@MindCharity) March 8, 2021

Since 2019, ITV has had an ongoing mental health campaign in collaboration with Mind called Britain Get Talking, aiming to destigmatise mental health issues.

An ITV rep told HuffPost UK regarding Mindā€™s statement: ā€ITV is committed to mental health and wellbeing and working with our charity partners on Britain Get Talking, which is about encouraging people to talk about their mental health.

ā€œIt is very important that if anyone has suicidal thoughts that they should always speak out and be listened to.ā€

Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid
ITV

During Tuesdayā€™s show, Piers said: ā€œOn mental illness and suicide these are clearly extremely serious things and should be taken extremely seriously and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and the help they need every time. Every time. And if they belong to an institution like the Royal Family and they go and seek that help they should absolutely be given it.

ā€œItā€™s not for me to question if she felt suicidal, I am not in her mind and that is for her to say. My real concern was a disbelief frankly and Iā€™m prepared to be proven wrong on this and if Iā€™m wrong it is a scandal, that she went to a senior member of the Royal household and told them she was suicidal and was told she could not have any help because it would be a bad look for the family.

ā€œIf that is true, that person should be fired and the Royal Family have serious questions that need to be answered.ā€

Tuesdayā€™s GMB saw Piers storming off the show after being called out by fellow presenter Alex Beresford about his on-screen treatment of Meghan.

Alex said: ā€œI understand that you donā€™t like Meghan Markle. Youā€™ve made it so clear, a number of times on this programme. A number of times.

ā€œAnd I understand that youā€™ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle and she cut you off, sheā€™s entitled to cut you off, if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I donā€™t think she has. But yet you continue to trash her.ā€

#piersmorgan walks off #GMB set šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ @gmb pic.twitter.com/98c2nnKsl0

ā€” Harry Jay (@PhilbyHarry) March 9, 2021

At that moment, Piers told the presenter and weather forecaster he was ā€œdone with thisā€, and walked off the set of the ITV show.

Criticising Piersā€™ ā€œdiabolical behaviourā€, Alex continued: ā€œIā€™m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen. Six-thirty to seven oā€™clock yesterday was incredibly hard to watch. Incredibly hard to watch.

ā€œThisā€¦ he has the ability to come in here and talk from a position where he doesnā€™t fully understand.ā€

Piers eventually returned to the panel after an ad break.

Good Morning Britain airs every weekday from 6am on ITV.

Useful websites and helplines

Mind, open Monday to Friday, 9am-6pm on 0300 123 3393.

Samaritans offers a listening service which is open 24 hours a day, on 116 123 (UK and ROI - this number is FREE to call and will not appear on your phone bill).

CALM (the Campaign Against Living Miserably) offer a helpline open 5pm-midnight, 365 days a year, on 0800 58 58 58, and a webchat service.

The Mix is a free support service for people under 25. Call 0808 808 4994 or email help@themix.org.uk

Rethink Mental Illness offers practical help through its advice line which can be reached on 0808 801 0525 (Monday to Friday 10am-4pm). More info can be found on rethink.org.

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