LONDON: Britain’s Prince William, his wife Catherine and his brother Harry urged Britons on Tuesday to talk more openly about mental health issues, saying too many people suffer in silence.
Long-standing supporters of mental health initiatives, they launched the “Heads Together” campaign in 2016, which works with charities to help tackle the stigma around mental health.
“There are times when whoever we are, it is hard to cope with challenges and when that happens, being open and honest and asking for help is life changing,” William, second in line to the British throne, said in a speech.
“For too long it has been a case of ‘keep quiet and carry on.’ As a result too many people have suffered in silence for too long and the effects of this can be devastating.”
The three young royals were speaking at a “Heads Together” briefing in London, to promote the initiative which is “charity of the year” for the April London Marathon. For 2017, they plan to offer “Heads Together” collaborations to more organizations.
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, said that not knowing how to ask for help was a particular challenge for some people.
“Admitting that they are not coping. Fear, or reticence, or a sense of not wanting to burden another, means that people suffer in silence — allowing the problem to grow larger and larger unchecked,” she said.
Later on Tuesday, William and Harry attend the inaugural Endeavour Fund Awards, a project led by the three young royals’ Royal Foundation that aims to help wounded servicemen and veterans with their recovery through sport and adventure.
William, Kate and Harry speak out on mental health
William, Kate and Harry speak out on mental health
Christmas Eve winner in Arkansas lands a $1.817 billion Powerball lottery jackpot
- The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19
- The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said
ARKANSAS, USA: A Powerball ticket purchased at a gas station outside Little Rock, Arkansas, won a $1.817 billion jackpot in Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing, ending the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner.
The winning numbers were 04, 25, 31, 52 and 59, with the Powerball number being 19. The winning ticket was sold at a Murphy USA in Cabot, lottery officials in Arkansas said Thursday. No one answered the phone Thursday at the location, which was closed for Christmas. The community of roughly 27,000 people is 26 miles (42 kilometers) northeast of Little Rock.
Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previous expected, making it the second-largest in US history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot had a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9 million.
“Congratulations to the newest Powerball jackpot winner! This is truly an extraordinary, life-changing prize,” Matt Strawn, Powerball Product Group Chair and Iowa Lottery CEO, was quoted as saying by the website. “We also want to thank all the players who joined in this jackpot streak — every ticket purchased helps support public programs and services across the country.”
The prize followed 46 consecutive drawings in which no one matched all six numbers.
The last drawing with a jackpot winner was Sept. 6, when players in Missouri and Texas won $1.787 billion.
Organizers said it is the second time the Powerball jackpot has been won by a ticket sold in Arkansas. It first happened in 2010.
The last time someone won a Powerball jackpot on Christmas Eve was in 2011, Powerball said. The company added that the sweepstakes also has been won on Christmas Day four times, most recently in 2013.
Powerball’s odds of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to generate big jackpots, with prizes growing as they roll over when no one wins. Lottery officials note that the odds are far better for the game’s many smaller prizes.
“With the prize so high, I just bought one kind of impulsively. Why not?” Indianapolis glass artist Chris Winters said Wednesday.
Tickets cost $2, and the game is offered in 45 states plus Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.
