CW: suicide, depression

On Wednesday, Princess Kate met with rugby players and staff at Maidenhead Rugby Club on behalf of her early childhood development project, Shaping Us.

While the conversation centered on how fathers can contribute to their children's development, the princess also met Sarah Renton, the mother of a teenage rugby player named Issy Phipps who died by suicide earlier this year. Renton coached boys under the age of 14 in Maidenhead.

Issy's mother presented the princess with a pair of star-shaped earrings made by her cousin. A portion of the proceeds from the 18k gold-plated earrings will be donated to Brave Mind, a charity dedicated to improving the mental health of rugby players; they can be purchased on the Earsass website.

Princess Kate gave Renton a warm hug and promised to wear the earrings in honor of Issy.

"Mental health is a very important issue," Renton said after meeting Kate (via the Daily Mail).

"Issy was fantastic," he said.

"She had great, great friends and surrounded herself with the best people. She enjoyed life, did very well at A-levels (the exam that British kids take at high school graduation), went on to an elite rugby program, played touch rugby for England, and won a gold medal in the summer.

Unfortunately, Issy also had mental health problems.

"But she also battled depression. Everything was harder than it was supposed to be," her mother said.

"We thought she was obviously getting better. But I think one of the things we are seeing is a lack of GP, medication, and support."

"She left herself a bit of a void. A lot of parents and children in this club have been affected, but we're getting through it together."

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, visit the National Alliance on Mental Health website.