Mental Health Monday

Beth Rees is this week's Mental Health Monday guest.

She's a Time to Change Champion, and a volunteer for Mind Cymru.

Her blog Just A Square Peg looks at life sitting between two separate diagnosis. One one hand Borderline Personality Disorder, on the other autism.

Beth discusses how that impacts her life, and how workplace understanding can play a key role in finding a way forward through difficult times.

If you need to find mental health services near you, click on the Hub of Hope 

MP Dean Russell joins Mick Coyle for part 2 of this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast.

Dean is Vice Chair of the APPG on mental health in Parliament. 

On Tuesday 23rd March, his 10 minute motion will raise the issues brought up by our Where's Your Head At? campaign, which saw 200,000 people sign a petition, calling on first aid to be made available in all workplaces and colleges.

The motion could be the first step in it becoming law.

You can watch it live at approx 1pm on Tues 23rd March: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Commons 

Mick Coyle looks at the new national There is Always Hope campaign from Network Rail.

The Network has teamed up with Chasing the Stigma to alert people to the services available via the Hub of Hope.

1500 interventions of people in a mental health crisis were made last year on the network, who are taking steps to get people to support before they are at risk.

Click on the links above to find out more about the project.

Part 2 of this week's podcast will be available from 6am on Tuesday 23rd March

Dr Sharon McDonnell is the guest on this week's podcast.

Sharon first met Mick in August 2018, while compiling the UK's biggest ever survey into the impact of suicide on bereaved friends and families.

The report is now published, through the University of Manchester, and provides evidence of the massive upheaval suicide can cause, and a widespread effects that shed new light on a taboo subject.

You can read the report here

Mick is joined by Alice Hendy from Ripple

Alice lost her brother to suicide in 2020, and she's hoping to change the way search engines respond to requests for information about taking your own life.

Ahead of a meeting with some of the world's tech giants, she sets out what inspires her to make a change, and how the memory of Josh drives her on to make a difference.

Join the Mental Health Monday Facebook Group

And please share on your social media channels.

Follow Mick on Twitter

Mick Coyle is joined by Zoe Bailie from The Mix, an organisation that supports young people.

They're promoting Self Harm Awareness Day, and are sharing with us the results of a new report into self harm in the UK.

It has shown a worrying increase in self harm during the coronavirus pandemic.

You can find out more about The Mix on their website.

Thanks to 17 year old Molly, and 16 year old Soraya for sharing their stories with us.

Subscribe to Mental Health Monday to hear our weekly chats about important mental health issues, and join our Facebook Group

Don't forget you can find mental health services near you by typing your postcode into the Hub of Hope

 

Two catch-up conversations with two great guests this week.

First up Phil Bridges from The Mind Map, a one stop shop that was created after Phil was inspired to try and make a difference after his own battles with mental ill health.

Phil discusses the changing nature of the conversation around mental health, but wanting to create a sustainable solution to people's problems.

Meanwhile, Lee Pennington from Open Door  discusses how their services have had to change during the pandemic, but also how ideas and models started since last March can be part of the future beyond coronavirus.

Follow Mick Coyle on Twitter @MrMickCoyle, and join the Mental Health Monday Facebook Group 

CEO of the Good Grief Trust Linda Magistris is Mick's Coyle guest on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast.

She discusses the work the Trust does to co-ordinate bereavement support with hundreds of organisations up and down the country.

On Wednesday 10th Feb they marked their #GoodGriefUmbrellaDay, and are keen to signpost to their services, which you can view on their website.

You can read more on the issue here, where you can also watch a video version of the interview.

Time to Change Director Jo Loughran is Mick Coyle's guest this week.

Feb 4th marks Time to Talk Day, where people are encouraged to open up about mental health.

#MentalHealthMonday is launching a new project called #BehindTheMask, where people can feel safe to discuss their emotions, and be signposted to appropriate services.

You can be part of it, by doing a selfie-video of yourself removing your mask (only in a safe environment) introducing yourself and tell us about your highs and lows of lockdown, and what coping mechanisms you've discovered. Post it with hashtag #BehindTheMask on your feeds.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Find more on Time To Talk Day here

Find Mental health services where you are here

Mick is joined by Samaritans Policy Director Joe Potter to discuss their new handbook to guide services who support men with mental health issues.

You can download the handbook here

Joe tells Mick how services can make sure they're offering an inclusive service that will encourage men to open up in a comfortable environment.

And they discuss what it is that makes middle aged men so vulnerable to mental health issues and suicidal thoughts.