LOS ANGELES (Reuters)

Britain’s Prince Harry has officially launched his new career as a Hollywood producer, after today (May 21) releasing the broadcast of his new docu-series, “The Me You Can’t See”.

The series which is being co-produced by Oprah Winfrey aims to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health.

During the series premiere, which is now being streamed on Apple TV+, Harry and Winfrey each spoke candidly about their own histories of trauma and anxiety.

Also featured on this week’s episode are actress Glenn Close, pop superstar Lady Gaga and boxer Virginia Fuchs.

Speaking during an interview ahead of the series launch, Harry explained that, “It wouldn’t have been fair of us to ask people to put themselves out there, to be vulnerable, to share their story if we weren’t willing to do the same”.

The five-part documentary marks Harry’s first outing as a producer since he and his wife Meghan reliquished their duties as members of the British royal family and moved to California last year.

Harry, formally known as the Duke of Sussex, is seen in the series undergoing a form of therapy known as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to treat unresolved anxiety stemming from his anger at the media and the death of his mother, Princess Diana, when he was 12.

Throughout the series, he opens up in detail about how Diana’s death in 1997 influenced his decision to quit the glare of life in the royal family.

On the matter of telling his own story, he stated that it “was a very easy decision because I do this to serve other people and to be able to share that story, knowing the positive impact that it will have. Even if it’s just for one person, it’s worth it.”

Of particular note from the documentary was Harry’s statement that he was told by his father, heir to the throne Prince Charles, that media attention and being part of the institution was something he had to get used to.

In response to this, he said: “That doesn’t make sense. Just because you suffered, it doesn’t mean that your kids have to suffer. In fact, quite the opposite. If you suffered, do everything you can to make sure that any negative experiences you had, you can make it right for your kids”.

“Isn’t this all about breaking the cycle?,” said Harry.

Winfrey, now one of the most influential Black women in the United States, spoke of a childhood that saw her whipped by her grandmother, made to sleep on an outdoor porch by her mother and raped by a cousin at age 9.

According to her, telling her story was crucial to her ability to process it.

Speaking about the documentary, which includes contributions from 14 health experts, Winfrey stated that it was intended to be global in its reach.

She said: “Whether you see yourself through these stories, or better understand a family member or a friend, or whatever your experience is… it will help you understand a variety of disorders and have more empathy and understanding,”.