Prince William has opened a men’s suicide prevention centre in Birmingham to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. The Prince of Wales toured the new facility run by James’ Place, a charity offering free therapy to men in suicidal crisis.
During the visit, William met staff and men whose lives were saved by the charity at its other locations. He urged greater openness about suicide, saying: 'We need to talk more about suicide, talk more about preventing it and talk about getting it to young men and women earlier, so we don’t have to have these centres in the very long run.'
Former service-user Marcus Davies described William as 'surprisingly normal' and 'very relaxed'. Another former client, Ben Brand, said: 'It was like just talking to anybody... just speaking to another man, having a chat.'
James’ Place was founded in memory of James Wentworth-Stanley, who died by suicide in 2006 at age 21. Since 2018, its three existing centres have saved over 5,100 men’s lives. The charity supports men, who account for over 75% of UK suicides.
William unveiled a plaque to mark the opening and received a hoodie from James’ mother, Clare Milford Haven. The Birmingham venue is the charity’s fourth centre, following Liverpool, London and Newcastle.
