Kelly Lawler

USA TODAY

Prince Harry opened up about the time he spent serving in Afghanistan, and the mental health challenges he and other soldiers faced.

While speaking to ambulance crews in London, the prince, 32, talked about flying helicopters during his second tour of duty. "You land and then hand them over and then are radioed to do something else. You never find out how that guy or girl recovered, whether they did recover or they didn’t," he said, via People. He told the ambulance workers, "I understand what you go through and thank God you have got each other."

Harry, along with brother Prince William and sister-in-law Duchess Kate, lead the Heads Together campaign in the U.K., which brings together various charities to fight mental health stigma. The royals have been vocal and active in their pursuit of mental health awareness.

Don't 'keep quiet': Prince William urges people to discuss mental health

“I also believe if people in the green uniform aren’t coming forward and talking about it, people driving blue-light vehicles in general aren’t talking about it, then the rest of us aren’t going to talk about it," Harry said at the event Thursday. “You guys are literally right in the thick of it, and to be able to carry on and operate at a really high percentage and be on your game the whole time, you need to come back and just get rid of all that – it’s unnecessary baggage.”

“We’re all human, we’re not machines, despite a lot of people in certain jobs having to think and behave like machines in order to get the best out of you," he added. "I accept that – but it’s not weakness, it’s strength to be able to come forward, deal with it, move on and be a better person."