Mental Health Monday

Mick is joined by Consultant Clinical Psychologist Dr Steve Eccles on this week's podcast.

Steve is part of the team delivering the Greater Manchester Universities Student Mental Health Service, which sees local NHS experts team up with the regions higher education establishments to provide mental health support to students.

The Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester Metropolitan University and the Universities of Manchester, Salford and Bolton are all signed up to the system so that they can refer people from within their individual wellbeing services.

Almost 1000 students have been through their doors since 2019, and a recent poll found 98% of service users rated the service as "good or excellent"

There's more about the service online

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Mick Coyle is joined by Siobhan Roxburgh and comedian Sam Avery to discuss The Comedy Trust's new "Laughter after Loss" project.

The scheme is open to anyone dealing with grief, or who've suffered a loss, to explore their experiences, using comedy as a tool to connect with other people and open up the conversation about grief, loss or other emotions experienced in the weeks, months and years after losing someone.

Anyone taking part in the project will get the opportunity to perform on stage as part of the Liverpool Comedy Festival in November.

Details of how to sign up to the course are available online on the Comedy Trust's website. and some participants will get the opportunity to appear on stage as part of the Liverpool Comedy Festival 2022.

Also on the show this week, Mick has news of THREE awards he's picked up at the UK Commercial Radio News Awards 2022, including two for the #MentalHealthMonday Iron Men project.

You can listen to the Iron Men Special podcast here

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Pete Smyth is Mick Coyle's guest on this week's Podcast.

Pete is part of the Parents in Mind service from the NCT which connects dads with other dads to talk through some of the difficulties and issues that can emerge when you become a father.

Pete uses his own experiences of being a father and son to help guide dads through challenging moments, or help gather perspective when facing times of difficulty.

As part of the service, PIM offer one-to-ones, group chats and walk and talks, as well as dedicated video podcasts and digital support links

The pilot scheme is currently operating in St Helens and Halton, Coventry and Newham.

Fingers crossed more dads will be able to access this vital service soon.

In September, Pete's team will be looking to train new dads in skills to support new parents, details of which will be posted on their website.

Mick Coyle brings you the full story behind CALM's #TheLastPhoto exhibition and campaign.

Featuring the last photo taken of people in the days and weeks before their suicide, the campaign aims to show you that "suicidal doesn't always look suicidal" and to challenge our preconceptions about suicide.

There's a link to the CALM resources, and more about the campaign on our website.

Please don't suffer alone.

Thanks to CALM for selecting Bauer Media to partner up for this project, and to share the story behind it with our listeners.

Thanks to the families of those featured in the campaign for allowing us to share their stories.

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Photo credit Matt Alexander / PA Wire

Mick Coyle is joined by Yorkshire MP, and member of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Loneliness Kim Leadbeater.

Kim is here to discuss the issues and facts raised by Loneliness Awareness Week in June 2022.

The long term impacts of isolation are only just being understood, but there are concerns it can significantly increase someone's risk of death, and can be as bad for you as smoking.

The British Red Cross National Support Line in promoted in the podcast. Open 10am - 6pm it can be reached on 0808 196 3651, where trained volunteers are standing by.

Other signposting services are included in the podcast.

In part 2 of the episode, Mick catches up with Helen Leadbitter from The Children's Society for an update on the #YoungCarersCount campaign.

We're pleased to be able to tell you that the government has decided to listen to those who work with Young Carers, and will from 2023 include their "carer status" in the school census.

Helen will tell us exactly what that means on this week's show

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Mick speaks to the CEO of Zealous and the creator of the Amplify mental health art competition "Amplify" Guy Armitage.

Guy and Mick have a wide ranging conversation about humans in a modern world, and the role art can play in helping us represent our own thoughts, or perceive them in others.

Guy also talks about his own mental health journey - exploring the idea of a strobe light which turns on at different stages in his life.

Zealous are currently running a UK wide art competition "celebrating creative works covering mental health and wellbeing"

Entries close on 11th July 2022. Entry is free, but you can make a donation to Create UK. a charity which empowers disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

Signposting is included at the end of the podcast to mental health services.

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Max George from The Wanted is our guest on this week's #MentalHealthMonday Podcast. (Podcast art by Alamy)

Mick Coyle caught up with Max ahead of "thank you" day, where people are encouraged to show their appreciation for those who go above and beyond to make a difference to people's lives.

Max speaks incredibly highly of NHS staff who supported him through this battles with anxiety and depression.

Concerts for Carers is a charity to offer free gig tickets to NHS staff and Carers who deserve an extra "thank you". You can find details about their work here.

The conversation also focuses on Max's bandmate Tom Parker who died from a brain tumour in March 2022.

Our thoughts are with Tom's friends and family at this time.

Tom's new book Hope: My Inspirational Journey is available now

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Founder and CEO of the Lions Barber Collective Tom Chapman is our guest on this week's podcast.

Tom has revolutionised the role of hair and beauty specialists, and turned them into crucial workers on the mental health frontline.

His new book "How to listen so men will talk" explores how we as individuals can be better equipped to listen and understand when people choose to open up to us about their mental health, or other issues in their lives.

There is signposting to mental health services at the end of the episode.

The book is available in all good book shops and online.

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Mick Coyle is live in Liverpool for episode 250 of Mental Health Monday!

Headlining the "Mental Health and Work Summit" at the Liverpool Arena and Convention Centre, he's joined by the writer and creator of hit TV series "The Responder".

As you will hear, Tony Schumacher's personal mental health and work journey inspired events we see play out on screen, with a cast starring the likes of Martin Freeman and Warren Brown.

Special thanks to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority for putting together a comprehensive day of talks and workshops, and to Jake Mills for MC-ing the event.

Signposting services are supplied at the end of the podcast.

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We're joined by Psychotherapist Ali Donat on this week's podcast.

Ali works for Nafsiyat, a therapy service in North London.

Nafsiyat provides therapy for people from a whole range of global backgrounds from non-English speakers, to immigrants and refugees.

There are currently more than 30 therapists working for the service, delivering therapy in 24 different languages.

It's a fascinating conversation about the nature of human beings and how language is so vital when it comes to our mental health.

Find out more about Nafsiyat on their website.

Find out more about the Liverpool City Region Mental Health Summit

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