Prince William expressed that he felt “lonely” after leaving his “traumatic” role as an air ambulance pilot, emphasizing the potential mental health challenges faced by emergency service personnel. During a visit to the Blue Light Hub in Milton Keynes, the Prince of Wales highlighted the importance of protecting mental health in high-stress jobs.
He shared, “For me, the traumatic jobs were what triggered me. The biggest issue was when I left altogether… when you do retire or step away from what you’re doing, don’t underestimate that a bit of a cliff fall can happen. Because not only do you suddenly – life suddenly catches up to you a little bit – but then you’re also quite isolated… your teammates aren’t around to catch you, and that can feel quite lonely and isolating.”
Prince William disclosed that he couldn’t shake off certain traumatic incidents, and the accumulated trauma took a toll on him. He advocated for “decompression breaks” to help emergency service personnel clear their heads and manage their mental health for long-term well-being.
NHS clinical psychologist Dr. Sian Williams praised Prince William for being a “powerful advocate” due to his firsthand experience working on the front lines and understanding the emotional challenges faced by those in high-stress roles.