Meghan Markle opens up about royal trauma: 'killing yourself '

Meghan Markle opened up about her past suicidal thoughts with Prince Harry in her first joint interview in three years .

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex talked about their new initiative, The Parents Network during the sit-down with CBS Sunday Morning host Jane Pauley.

This project aims to support families who have lost children to suicide following experiences of online bullying. 

For Meghan, 43, the initiative is deeply personal, given her earlier revelations about struggling with self-harm while she was a working member of the Royal Family.

Explaining why exactly this network means so much to her, Meghan stated she 'would never want someone else to not be believed'.

Meghan could be seen reaching out to touch Harry's leg for comfort as Jane asked her: "You had an experience that connects you to these families – and I see you touch your husband's hand in just the way I knew that you would be looking after each other if I went places – but the connection that you have with people is they know you had suffered, too, personally. 

"Contemplating killing yourself is what suicidal ideation was. And I'm dancing around this because I could see you're uncomfortable with my even going there..."

Meghan, who this week celebrated her 43rd birthday, responded: "I understand why you are, though – I wasn't expecting it, but I understand why you are, because there is a through-line, I think. And when you've been through any level of pain or trauma, I believe part of our healing journey (certainly part of mine) is being able to be really open about it. And you know, I haven't really scraped the surface on my experience. 

"But I do think that I would never want someone else to feel that way. And I would never want someone else to be making those sort of plans. And I would never want someone else to not be believed.

"So, if me voicing what I have overcome will save someone, or encourage someone in their life to really genuinely check in on them and not assume that the appearance is good, so everything's okay, then that's worth it. I'll take a hit for that."