In this episode of Afternoon Tea, we explore trust in services and systems, and how mental health challenges can affect engagement and reporting. With our two hosts/baristas, Lisa and Krish, we spill the tea with our guest, Hayley Brown, CEO of Link To Change. Together, we unpack the barriers that can make it difficult for individuals and communities to seek help, and how these challenges can impact trust in services, including policing.

Through an open and empathetic conversation, we reflect on the importance of understanding lived experiences and creating environments where people feel safe, heard, and supported. Drawing on community outreach insight, we explore how trust can be built over time through consistent, compassionate engagement, and why empathy-led approaches are key to strengthening relationships between the public and professionals.

We also discuss how local policing and services can respond more sensitively to mental health needs, focusing on prevention, care, and community understanding. By amplifying community voices, we highlight how systems can evolve to better reflect and support the people they serve.

🎧 What You’ll Get from This Episode:

• Insight into how mental health challenges can act as barriers to engagement and reporting

• Understanding of how trust in services is built through empathy, consistency, and community connection

• Honest discussion about the importance of listening to lived experiences and creating safe spaces

• Reflections on how policing and services can adopt more compassionate, prevention-focused approaches

• Practical ideas for amplifying community voices and shaping more responsive, supportive systems

Tune in, grab a cuppa, take a breath, and join the conversation with us on Afternoon Tea.

💡 Whether you’re a young person, parent, or just curious, we welcome you to start your journey with us to get insights, understanding, and tools you can use right away. Afternoon Tea is a podcast dedicated to honest conversations around mental health, wellbeing, and the experiences that shape us.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions of mental health, substance abuse, exploitation and emotional wellbeing.

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A massive thank you to our funders:

Bedfordshire Police & Crime Commissioner