LOS ANGELES – (August 4, 2024) – Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with their philanthropic organization, The Archewell Foundation, today announced the launch of The Parents’ Network, available for the first time for parents to join in the US, UK and Canada following the success of a two-year pilot program.
This global community aims to provide crucial support to parents whose children have suffered from the harmful effects of social media, from facing near-fatal harm, managing ongoing mental health difficulties, or experiencing the tragic loss of a child. Renowned for its leadership in creating a safer online world, The Archewell Foundation successfully piloted this initiative in 2023. Utilizing trauma-informed practices, parents created strong bonds and offered healing support through community. Now, this safe, free-to-access peer-support network, complete with comprehensive advice and resources provided by a licensed facilitator, offers invaluable support to those in need.
The Archewell Foundation and parents from the pilot program have unveiled the “No Child Lost to Social Media” campaign to help tell their stories. This initiative advocates for social media platforms to prioritize safety in their design. Parents alone cannot fully protect their children from risks due to the inherently dangerous design of these products. Since the early 2010s, the rise of social media has been linked with increased rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide among adolescents.
“Over the past two years, alongside our co-founders Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, our team has engaged deeply with parents and young people about the repercussions of social media on their mental, physical, and emotional well-being. It became strikingly clear that there is a critical need for connection and community among those who understand the pain, fear, and isolation caused by social media’s impact on children. We believe in the transformative power of community, and that is why we have created this network—to connect those who face these challenges and offer mutual support.” – James Holt, Executive Director of The Archewell Foundation
Last year, the organization hosted The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit in honor of World Mental Health Day. The summit brought together parents who have experienced tragic loss, connected to their child’s social media use, for a discussion on building community and creating a safer online world for young people.
For resources and more information, please visit The Parents’ Network website at: www.archewell.org/theparentsnetwork.