Aspects

How can global mental health and the humanitarian sector move beyond its history of discrimination?

In this episode, we take a look inside the global mental health and humanitarian sector. You will meet founder and psychiatrist Dixon Chibanda, who has led Friendship Bench from a local initiative to a global phenomenon. You will hear how powerful encounters with “strangers” contributed to his life's journey. Dixon shares how he has experienced discrimination at various levels within global mental health and the humanitarian sector. He reflects around how he found subconscious narratives within himself and many of those he has met from the Global North. He shares how he sees this as a strongly contributing factor in maintaining the skewed balance of power from the colonial era, both within the field of psychiatry, academia, and global mental health, but equally in society at large. Dixon reflects on how we must dare to face ourselves and others to create space for a world where the negative trend of mental health challenges is turned. As he sees the trend closely connected to the discriminatory structures in society. 

Together with Jimmy, they look at how we can contribute to changing the underlying narratives that many of us carry subconsciously.

Dixon Chibanda leads Friendship Bench Global and is the founder of Friendship Bench, which started in Zimbabwe. He has a background in medicine from Czechia and the University of Zimbabwe, in addition to a Phd. in psychiatry from the University of Cape Town. Together with 14 grandmothers, they developed the methodology of training community workers in the problem-solving part of cognitive behavioural therapy. Dixon is passionate about the power of community and the importance of relationships with those around us, but also about spreading insight and knowledge in the sector, which he does as an associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London & the University of Zimbabwe.

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In this rare podcast episode recorded during the interview tour in Sierra leone, you will hear how Nick managed to go from Freetown to UK, end up on the street, and re-build his life again. He has a truly inspiring story of how he managed to stay motivated and work hard to build his own life from scratch. Learn how he managed to find strenght to overcome the dark periods of loneliness and how he ended up returning to Freetown, where he now works with Joe at Life by Design, helping young people find their path in life. This is truly a insightful episode with an extraordinary man that can teach us all something about life and hope. Enjoy.

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Whats behind a life in crime? How do you move beyonnd it and how do you learn to express your feelings?

Learn how Amani and Still Shadey managed to get out of a life in crime, but also how it nearly got them both killed, and how they lost others to the crime life. They both had rough circumstances and struggled to express their feelings and ended up finding brotherhood in the “wrong” environments. See what their long journey to the role models they are today taught them, and how they think we can deal with the underlying factors that pushes young people towards crime today.  Hear what Maxie sees from his Father's work through the boxing gym and what Jimmy has seen through his work and other interviews about the issues that young people tackle today. This very engaging  episode  touches  upon identity, pressure, lack of ability to express your emotions and how to deal with these issues as a youngster but also an adult astray. 

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How is UK dealing with mental health and why does youth struggle?

Learn what Meg that is working with youth and mental health feels about the UK situation. She was herself close to committing suicide and has struggled with both depression and anxiety from a young age. Growing up she felt she could never become depressed, as she was always considered to be the strong one and go-to-girl for her friends. When it hit here, she did not believe it and struggled to share it with those around her. Now she is running a successful start up providing workshops and guidance to companies and schools. See how she feels the UK is in the forefront in terms of talking about mental health from the royal family to the youth, but how they feel actions are missing, to increase knowledge and empower people to take action in their own lives. Learn what Jimmy and the team learned from the second UK interview tour and all 3 share their views on what could be done in terms of actions. They also discuss what they recommend those struggling with depression and anxiety to try, based on their own experience and insights. This is a lively and open episode that shares the passionate energy from 3 people working on mental health progress. Enjoy.

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How is digitization affecting mental health and therapy?

Learn what our psychologist Moises Silva has experienced working with the digital tools of mental health, like chat, skype sessions, and also how he sees the THA interviews fit in the mix. Moises has worked with mental health in Kenya, Norway, Portugal and Brazil, and his curiosity has given him the opportunity to try new tools. Hear his thoughts on the difference between chat, video sessions and face-to-face therapy, and what he sees as the pros and cons with the different methods. Also in which stage he sees the methods could have the most positive effect on us, and what challenges they offer for a professional. Today he is working on the professional description and guidelines for all the THA interviews for the professional platform coming soon, with his professional team. In this episode he shares what this work has taught him and what impact he feels the interviews could give when incorporated in therapy. Jimmy and Moises also discuss what impact this could have on the fact that only between 20-40 % of the people who face a mental health illness seek professional help (WHO). Dive into the future of mental health, but also learn how you could apply what is available out there today in your life, both as a professional, but also if you want to try to tackle your life challenge today.

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How can you leave up to the expectations of the words that defined you to the world?

Learn how Chris managed to overcome what came after the story he is most known for and hear how he found himself in the rubble of his own despair. Jimmy and Chris share their experiences with depression and peer pressure. How did it feel to be world known for something that did not end the way you dreamt and the criticism that follows. Hear the full story behind and how he overcame his challenges.

Chris Medina got famous for his song “what are words” and the tragic story of his ex. fiance Juliana Ramos that got seriously injured in a car accident. Chris stood by her and got famous for his words “Cause what kind of guy would I be, If I was to leave when you need me most”. Sadly, life is not always like a Disney movie and Juliana and Chris agreed to part ways. The energy it took to dear to do this had hidden consequences on Chris’s mental health and he met shocking feedback form “haters”. He started his new life in Norway and now lives there with the mother of their beautiful daughter Mila. 

This episode lays out new insights into the life of a “celebrity overnight” and Chris share his reflections and thoughts on his lessons from these tough challenges. As always Jimmy and Chris also serves this with great humor and wide perspectives. 

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