Prince Harry has thrown his support behind first responders, joining a peer support town hall in Santa Barbara County to encourage those on the front lines to speak openly about the mental toll of their work.
The Duke of Sussex addressed dozens of officers gathered in Buellton, where law enforcement and emergency personnel met to exchange ideas and discuss how best to care for colleagues facing the emotional strain of the job.
“The more individuals who come forward to talk about this issue and share their own experiences, the more everyone else will have permission to do so as well,” he said.
“You have a more resilient and stronger workforce. It’s that simple.”
The event was organized with the support of ONE805, a Santa nonprofit dedicated to improving the well-being of first responders through programs including confidential counseling and mental health resources.
Santa Maria Police Officer John Robles knows that struggle firsthand.
After more than a decade in law enforcement, he admitted that the traditional approach was to suppress difficult emotions and continue working, even after losing a fellow officer to suicide.
Harry acknowledged that many emergency workers are afraid to open up because they worry it could jeopardize their careers or take them away from their front-line duties.
“That’s a genuine concern,” he said. “The best thing about the peer-to-peer support structure that has been built here is that people know they can speak honestly, feel better afterwards and still be confident that their job is safe.”
The Duke also praised the progress made by police and fire leaders who have worked to reshape attitudes around mental health, saying meaningful change starts with leadership willing to challenge outdated ideas.
Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown also echoed that message.
