Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will return to NYC next week to host Archewell’s mental health summit – five months after their ‘near catastrophic car chase’ in Big Apple

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will return to New York City in mid-October for Archewell’s mental health summit, the first ever in-person event for the foundation.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be in the Big Apple on October 10 for the event, five months after their ‘near catastrophic car chase’ through the city. 

The Archewell Foundation’s Parents’ Summit is aimed as helping families navigate children’s mental health and wellness in the digital age, PEOPLE reports. 

The event has specifically invited parents who have experienced a loss due to or connected to their child’s social media us. 

‘The families have been engaged with The Archewell Foundation for the past year, bolstering community and driving towards solutions,’ a spokesperson for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex told PEOPLE.  

‘Together, they are united in their mission to share personal experiences, data, and research to ensure the same does not happen to other families,’ they said. 

Markle, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, will also be joined by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy to discuss mental health in a panel hosted by Carson Daly.   

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will return to New York City in mid-October for Archewell’s mental health summit, the first ever in-person event for the foundation. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Women of Vision awards in NYC in May 

The Archewell Foundation’s Parents’ Summit is aimed as helping families navigate children’s mental health and wellness in the digital age, PEOPLE reports

Markle, 42, and Prince Harry, 39, will also be joined by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy (pictured) to discuss mental health during a panel

Carson Daly will moderate the conversation with Meghan, Harry, and the U.S. Surgeon General

The pair – who are no strangers to advocacy work – were in New York in May for the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards, where Meghan was honored. 

A statement from the Sussex’s spokesperson called the incident a ‘near catastrophic car chase at the hands of a ring of highly aggressive paparazzi.’ 

The spokesman said the couple, as well as Meghan’s mom Doria Ragland, were the victims of a ‘relentless pursuit lasting more than two hours.’ 

It has been suggested that they were trying not to be followed to where they were staying on the Upper East Side of the city. 

New York police subsequently told NBC that they did not believe the chase was ‘near catastrophic,’ however. They described it as a ‘bit of a chaotic scene’.

Julian Phillips, deputy commissioner of public information in New York also revealed that the NYPD ‘assisted’ the couple’s private security team.

New York Mayor Eric Adams expressed empathy – describing the actions of the paparazzi as ‘reckless’ and ‘irresponsible’ – but said he would find it ‘hard to believe’ there was a two-hour high speed chase.

It’s unclear how long Meghan and Prince Harry will be in New York City for their upcoming visit but they will be in town for World Mental Health Day on October 10.

According to PEOPLE, the couple will partake in a conservation about social media, mental health, and how to empower and uplift others. 

The summit as a whole is part of Project Healthy Minds’ second annual World Mental Health Day Festival, which tackles the mental health crisis. 

The pair – who are no strangers to advocacy work – were in New York in May for the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards, where Meghan was honored. Pictured: Meghan Markle and Gloria Steinem at the Women of Vision Awards in May 

According to PEOPLE, the couple will partake in a conservation about social media, mental health, and how to empower and uplift others

The pair – who are no strangers to advocacy work – were in New York in May for the Ms. Foundation Women of Vision Awards, where Meghan was honored

The topic is near and dear to Meghan and Prince Harry, who have been open and honest about their own mental health struggles in the past. 

On the Archetypes podcast last October, the Duchess of Sussex discussed her own experience getting a referral to see a professional when she was at her ‘worst point.’

‘I think at my worst point, being finally connected to someone that, you know, my husband had found a referral for me to call. And I called this woman,’ Meghan said. 

‘She didn’t know I was even calling her. And she was checking out at the grocery store. I could hear the little beep, beep, and I was like, “Hi,” and I’m introducing myself and that you can literally you’re going, wait, sorry. I’m just. Who is this? Um, and saying I need help. And she could hear the dire state that I was in,’ Meghan said. 

‘But I think it’s for all of us to be really honest about what it is that you need and to not be afraid to make peace with that, to ask for it,’ the Duchess of Sussex recalled.

The two also have discussed their mental health struggles in interviews, including CBS’ sit down in March 2021 with Oprah Winfrey. 

In an Apple TV+ series that debuted in May 2021, Prince Harry discussed having panic attacks and going to therapy to work through some of his trauma. 

‘It was meeting and being with Meghan, I knew that if I didn’t do therapy and fix myself, that I was going to lose this woman who I could see spending the rest of my life with,’ he said.

The two also have discussed their mental health struggles in interviews, including CBS’ sit down in March 2021 with Oprah Winfrey

In an Apple TV+ series that debuted in May 2021, Prince Harry discussed having panic attacks and going to therapy to work through some of his trauma

Earlier this year, Murthy said social media presents a ‘profound risk of harm’ for children and called for ‘immediate action to protect kids now’ 

Earlier this year, Murthy said social media presents a ‘profound risk of harm’ for children and called for ‘immediate action to protect kids now.’

The surgeon general said in an urgent health advisory published in May that the country is experiencing ‘a national youth mental health crisis.; 

At the time, he pointed towards social media as one of the main culprits.

Evidence has been mounting for years that social media is detrimental to youths due to highly sophisticated algorithms which can promote self-harm and other dangerous content to young users.