The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have visited Harrow to mark World Mental Health Day.

Will and Kate attended the event hosted by Mind, the mental health charity, at Harrow College on Saturday (October 10).

The royal couple met with young people who have personal experience of mental health problems and now volunteer with Mind in Harrow or the anti-stigma campaign Time to Change.

They discussed the challenges they have faced and how they channel their experiences to inform and inspire others at schools, colleges and youth groups.

The Duke and Duchess also joined students from the college to take part in a Mindkit workshop, which educates young people about emotional health and resilience.

Mind’s Chief Executive Paul Farmer said: “By putting a spotlight on mental health, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are helping us to send an important and urgent message to the world that it is time to change our attitudes about mental health problems.”

He said mental health is now “receiving the attention it deserves” and added: “Our young Mindkit volunteers are doing a sterling job, both here in Harrow and right across London. We know that if young people feel they can reach out for help, and receive that support, their longer term outcomes are significantly improved. Mindkit is helping ensure that the next generation will have a much more positive attitude to mental health.”

Time to Change director Sue Baker said: “Having the support of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on World Mental Health Day will help to bring mental health out from the shadows to a global audience.

“Three children in every classroom will experience a mental health problem and stigma and discrimination can have a big impact on their lives, preventing them from going to school or college or simply socialising with friends.

“By meeting young Time to Change campaign champions to hear about their experiences and how they’ve tackled stigma, it sends out a powerful message that it’s okay to talk about mental health.”

Harrow College Principal and Chief Executive Pat Carvalho spoke of her delight of Harrow College hosting such a prestigious event: "The College is very proud to support the work of Mind In Harrow and to ensure our students have the right support and guidance to help them to develop and reach their full potential.

"Today has truly raised awareness of the positive approaches young people can adopt to better understand and manage their own mental health."

It is not the first time the Duke and Duchess have helped build awareness and understanding around mental health issues in the past.

Prince William recently took part in an anti-bullying workshop run by the Diana Awards charity, while The Duchess paid a visit to the Anna Freud Centre in London, which is a child mental health research and treatment charity.

Every year, Harrow’s Mind helps more than 7,000 local people with mental health problems, drawing on its 100 volunteers for assistance.

Services offered to Harrow residents include talking therapies, training and employment and peer-led support projects.

The college already works closely with Mind on a number of initiatives and activities to support students.