William added: “We need to talk more about suicide, talk more about preventing it and talk about getting it [help] to young men and women earlier, so we don’t have to have these centres in the very long run.
“That is the aim.”
William toured the new centre and met staff, partners and service users who had been supported by the charity.
Ben, who was referred to the charity last year said of his experience: “It feels like the world is sort of crumbling around you and everything is closing in and just like a feeling of complete hopelessness.
“And when you come somewhere like here and they start to help break that down for you and you talk with a therapist and you go through it you realise there is always hope.
“There is always a light to get towards.”
Afterwards, people who had been helped praised the prince.
One man said: “It’s quite remarkable meeting someone like that but also someone who is listening to every word you are saying and actually responding in kind.
“It’s kind of magic, actually.”
The prince has opened all four of branches of James’ Place. The one in Birmingham will be able to help up to 500 men in crisis every year.