Good Thinking Podcast

Navigating a relationship was difficult enough before, but lockdown has added another level of complexity. Amber from Brook, a nationwide charity supporting young people with sexual health and wellbeing advice, talks about what has changed and offers some useful tips. No doubt helpful for her own blossoming relationship with her…….pot plants

Amber Newman-Clark is an Education & Wellbeing Specialist at Brook

Lockdown is helpful for infection control, but not for Eating Disorders; they thrive in isolation. CEO, Andrew Radford and Director of Services, Caroline Price, of BEAT, the UK’s Eating Disorders charity, share how a combination of agility and innovation helped them respond to the still increasing demand for support, whilst funding was less certain.

The Beatles sang ‘Eight days a week is not enough to show I care’; never more true. Paula Ludley co-founded “Nine Day Week” to support those who were working and caring both for their children, their elderly parents, and even their pets. The demands are great, but peer support from friends and family makes it possible, as does the longing to sit and talk again with those shielded, with a good cup of tea.

In this podcast Professor Kevin Fenton unpacks all of the knowledge and thinking behind the public health response to the COVID-19, and shares how looking after your health is the best way to protect yourself in the future? Who knew you could sail a ship at the same time as building it?

Professor Kevin Fenton if the Regional Director for Public Health in London, Public Health England

Between the ages of 14 and 25 years, most young people invest more of themselves in their education than anything else. What happens when the reward for that suddenly becomes uncertain, unknown? The impact of coronavirus on students has been significant as a huge part of their culture and structure suddenly disappeared when education settings mostly shut their doors. Mhairi Underwood shares how The Student Room, the UK’s largest online student community, is supporting children and young people to connect and support each other through uncertainty, with a focus on maintaining hope that things will get better.

Mhairi Underwood is Head of Community at The Student Room

It takes courage to reach for support when you are struggling, perhaps in crisis. Victoria Hornby shares how Shout: Crisis Text Line have used innovation and technology to make it as easy as we can to support those that have had the courage to reach out by texting 85258. And that number is really, very interesting…

Victoria Hornby is the CEO at Mental Health Innovations, a digital mental health charity which launched Shout

During the pandemic we might have thought that working from home was temporary, but for some it is now a permanent arrangement. Dr Nicola Millard shares fantastic insights from almost 30 years with British Telecom on how to do it well. And it turns out, it’s a bit like drinking at a wedding…

Dr Nicola Millard is a Principal Innovation Partner at BT

As lockdown eases, unease may take its place. Professor Neil Greenberg shares insights on how we now respond to the stress, even traumas, that many have lived with in past months, not least those on the frontline, and how we can learn much from how the military manage transitions. Done well, there is the prospect of hope, and growth.

Professor Neil Greenberg is an academic, occupational & forensic psychiatrist, founder & director of March on Stress; Professor with King's College, London

Many families are currently juggling many competing demands during Pandemic from home schooling to money concerns. They are also grappling with the challenges their children face in the digital world, as we live through changes not seen since the industrial revolution. World expert on digital parenting, Sonia Livingstone provides insights and advice about parenting in the digital present and future. Cellos, optional.

People are often using online communities to seek support and advice to manage their mental health. Here, Darren Gough, provides insights into the world of online communities and how important it is to look after those who run them……..community managers, who may be now, frontline workers.