By, Josh Jackman
1 min read
ByJosh Jackman, Josh Jackman
Mental health campaigner Jonny Benjamin has said that speaking to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge was "like talking to friends".
The ambassador for mental health charity Jami was meeting the duke and duchess ahead of a film screening about suicide prevention.
"We really could have talked for hours," Mr Benjamin said. "I forgot after a while that it was the future king and queen of England sitting there. We even had a bit of a laugh."
Mr Benjamin, a former JFS pupil, met the royals with Neil Laybourn - who talked him down from committing suicide eight years ago on Waterloo Bridge - at St Thomas' Hospital, where he was sectioned after the attempt.
The activist praised the couple's knowledge and enthusiasm: "We chatted for ages, and they had loads of questions. Kate was asking about how to improve mental health education in schools."
Mr Benjamin said the duke had said he wanted "to blow the lid off the stigma around mental health once and for all," which was "amazing to hear".
The four then travelled to Kensington Palace to screen Mr Benjamin's Channel Four documentary, The Stranger on the Bridge, to around 20 school children from south London.