Mental Health Monday

Mick Coyle is joined by GB Paralympian Amy Conroy.

Amy is on the podcast to talk about her mental health journey, discussing grief, family support, overcoming physical illness, and finding new goals in life.

Amy was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13, and had already lost her mum to the illness.

She lost a leg as part of her treatment, but showed immense strength to seek new goals, and found herself playing wheelchair basketball at the Paralympics.

Amy reveals how she survived her journey, and how she is learning to spot the signs that her mental health might be struggling.

Amy was speaking as AXA released their Mind Health Survey results for 2023.

Follow Amy on Instagram

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Mick Coyle is joined by former gymnast Gaby Santacruz on this week's Podcast.

Gaby recently gave a Tedx talk about how growing up as a gymnast in Ecuador impacted her mental health, and how the culture around seeking "perfection" started to have a negative impact on her sense of wellbeing.

In this podcast she explores how the echoes of her childhood experience in gymnastics affected her ability to hold down a normal job, once she'd stepped away from the gymnasium, and how therapy helped her understand her experiences and move into a more positive space.

Thanks to Gaby for sharing her story.

Follow host Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram, you can join the Mental Health Monday Facebook Group

Issues discussed: Gymnastics, pressures on young people, injuries, therapy, medication

 

Mick Coyle is joined by first time author Chris Roberts.

Chris explores how writing his new book about the state of the game of football helped him through a difficult spell in his life

Chris talks about living with grief, depressive and suicidal thoughts, and how the focus of the book, and the support he's received from organisations like Sean's Place have put him on a better path.

The book itself looks at different aspects of the game of football from "win at all costs" attitudes to club ownership.

Its available on Amazon - but you can pick it up in person at Pritchard's Books in Crosby, Merseyside.

A share of all profits will go to Sean's Place.

Follow author Chris Roberts on Twitter

Follow host Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram, and get video clips from each episode on the Mental Health Monday Facebook page

Mick is joined by Carrie and Clarke Carlisle as they launch their new mental health qualification at the University of Central Lancashire.

Clarke is an ex-footballer with Burnley FC, Leeds United, Blackpool, Preston, Northampton, Watford and York. He's also ex-Chair of the PFA, and has shared his story on Mental Health Monday about his battles against depression and suicidal thoughts in the past

Now he returns alongside wife Carrie, to share news of a new Advanced Certificate qualification they've created with the University of Central Lancashire.

The short course will give participants skills in the theory and practice of mental health advocacy - something Clarke and Carrie emphasise should be beneficial to those receiving help and those who are giving it.

Find out more about the course and get more information here.

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Mick Coyle is joined by Psychologist Dr Terri Apter to discuss the findings of a five year long study by The Female Lead.

The research looked at how teenage girls and young women felt about their social media use, and themselves, if they followed more "positive" role models in their feeds instead of a typical airbrushed celebrity.

The results are in, and offer an insight into how we might all be able to use social media more safely in the future, with our own wellbeing and aspiration at the forefront.

You can also take The Female Lead pledge to #DisruptYourFeed and change the way you scroll.

Follow Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram, and join the conversation on the MHM Facebook Group

Thanks to the Female Lead team for their assistance in making this week's episode.

Cover photo Priscilla Du Preez / Unsplash 

Mick Coyle is joined by Associate Professor of Psychology at Middlesex University, Dr Lisa Marzano.

Dr Lisa is teaming up with Samaritans, Network Rail and the British Transport Police as part of their Small Talk Saves Lives campaign.

As part of the campaign, a new survey has found how people often feel uncomfortable with the idea of approaching someone who might be in a mental health crisis.

Dr Lisa has a series of tips on what you can say to make a difference, and ultimately save lives.

You can see more on the Small Talk Saves Lives campaign here

Follow Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram, and get video previews of each episode on the Mental Health Monday Facebook page

Katy Brown from The Vibrancy Hub is with us for this week's Podcast.

As we start to break the back of the long winter, we take a look at being good to yourself at this time of year, and using nature as a guide to how we might feel.

Also on the agenda, how to best manage the time we have so we can focus on the things that matter when they matter.

We all have such busy lives - Katy has some tips to help us prioritise.

And the average UK resident spends four hours a day on their phone - does that sound like you? How can we teach ourselves to switch off and live in the moment a little?

Follow Katy on Instagram and find out more about The Vibrancy Hub

Host Mick Coyle is on Twitter, Instagram, and don't forget to watch preview videos of each episode on the Mental Health Monday Facebook page

TOPICS: SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder, Depression, Phone Use, Time Management

This week's episode is recorded live at the "It's Mental Live" event at the University of Bolton stadium.

Mental Health Monday was up on stage with inspiring guests who are overcoming adversity and societal expectations to break new ground, grow themselves (and people around them), by doing things a little bit differently.

Joining Mick Coyle are Manchester Arena bomb survivor Martin Hibbert, Self Defence coach Zee Jogi, DJ-turned counsellor Young Lee and Tech entrepreneur Lee Chambers

Each have their own story to tell, and offer an incredible insight into how they've achieved that they have, and how they hope to grow in the future.

Photo credit Zee Jogi Instagram (L-R Mick Coyle, Lee Chambers, Martin Hibbert, Zee, It's Mental CEO Stephen Robinson)

Signposting is provided at the end of the episodes.

Follow host Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram and join the Mental Health Monday Facebook Group for video previews of each week's episode.

Mick is hosting this week's podcast from the It's Mental Live event at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Billed as the "Ultimate Wellbeing Experience", the day saw more than a thousand people come together to explore wellbeing, meeting exhibitors, specialists, and hear inspiring stories in the central arena.

Mick hosted the day from the main stage, welcoming guests, and guest presenters, to chat with some familiar names and faces, with wellbeing at the heart of the conversation.

Among those in attendance is former Millwall, Blackburn, West Ham and Ireland player Steven Reid, who has taken the decision to cut short his coaching career to pursue a new venture in mental health.

Steven explores with Mick how he came to the decision, and how he hopes his own story will warn others of the untold side of the game.

Thanks to Stephen Robinson and the It's Mental team for inviting Mental Health Monday to be part of the day.

Follow MHM host Mick Coyle on Twitter and Instagram, and join the Mental Health Monday facebook page

TOPICS: Depression, Anxiety, Imposter Syndrome, Professional Football

Mick Coyle gets a first look at the Prince's Trust Natwest Youth Index 2023, which shows a concerning set of stats around the wellbeing of young people.

Money worries, economic uncertainty and mental health issues are just some of the issues that 16-25 year olds are juggling at the start of 2023, according to their findings.

Rachel Edwards from Prince's Trust guides Mick through the survey and highlights the ways young people can find away forward.

There are signposting services at the end of each episode

Find out more about Prince's Trust

Follow Mick Coyle on Twitter, Instagram and get video clips from each podcast on the Mental Health Monday Facebook Page 

TOPICS: Depression, anxiety, job worries, uncertainty, peer pressure