MQ Open Mind by MQ Mental Health Research

04.16.2024

Professor Simon Wessely & Understanding NHS Spending

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to the Regius Professor of Psychiatry at King’s College London, Professor Sir Simon Wessely. Simon is a psychiatrist and epidemiologist with a focus on military health and unexplained symptoms and syndromes. In 2017,...

04.01.2024

Building Mentally Healthy Workplaces w/ Georgie Mack & Dr Kate Duckworth

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to the CEO of Peopleful, Georgie Mack, and Head of Data, Analysis & Insight at Peopleful, Dr Kate Duckworth. MQ Mental Health Research has joined forces with Peopleful and the WorkWell Research...

03.19.2024

Dr Chloe Paidoussis-Mitchell & Understanding Grief

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to counselling psychologist and author Dr Chloe Paidoussis Mitchell. Chloe is a highly experienced psychologist specialising in grief and trauma and how it relates to one’s mental health. Recently, she released her first...

03.05.2024

Dr. Martha Deiros Collado & Gaining Insight Into Your Child

Welcome to the first episode of Season 3 of MQ Open Mind!Join Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig as they delve into the fascinating world of child and young people’s mental health with special guest, clinical psychologist and author, Dr. Martha...

11.28.2023

Andy Bell & How to Create a Mentally Healthier Nation

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to the CEO of the Centre for Mental Health, Andy Bell. The Centre for Mental Health is an organization UK charity that focuses on building mental health research to create fairer mental...

11.14.2023

Dr Maxime Taquet & Why Some People Develop Brain Fog

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to MQ researcher and academic clinical fellow at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, Dr Maxime Taquet. Initially training to become an engineer, Maxime made the change to mental...

10.31.2023

Professor David Nutt & A New Approach to Treating Depression

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Edmond J. Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology and the head of the Psychedelics Research Centre at Imperial College London, Professor David Nutt. David specialises in the research of drugs that affect the...

10.18.2023

Prof Kathryn Abel & Improving CAMHS

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to PR professional and Mum of four, Hayley Peters, and professor of psychological medicine and psychiatrist at the University of Manchester, Professor Kathryn Abel. Hayley has first-hand experience navigating child and adolescent...

09.27.2023

Professor Louise Arseneault & Collaboration in Research

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to professor of developmental psychology at Kings College London, Louise Arseneault. Louise’s research focuses on the study of harmful behaviours such as violence and substance dependence, their developmental origins, their inter-connections with...

07.26.2023

What Do We Want Research to Answer

On the 5th of July, MQ launched the very first Research Appreciation Day. A day to celebrate the hard work of health researchers from all disciplines. For this special episode of Open Mind, and in honour of Research Appreciation Day, here...

06.22.2023

Jenny Okolo & Empathy in the Criminal Justice Sector

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Occupational Therapist, Jenny Okolo. Jenny is a highly experienced lead psychiatric occupational therapist and a respected mental health advocate. She has a strong background in the criminal justice sector. Her main...

06.07.2023

Explaining our Gone Too Soon Roadmap

In this episode, we spoke to Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester, Tony Pisani, Head of Development at MQ, Emily Wheeler, and founder of Into The Light and suicide researcher, Benny Prawira, to discuss MQ’s latest paper,...

05.16.2023

Dean Stott (DLC Anxiety) & Thriving with Anxiety

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to mental health activist and author, Dean Stott. After managing with an anxiety disorder for several years, Dean had the idea to start DLC Anxiety, an online community support group for...

04.25.2023

Dr Lucy Foulkes & the Truth About Mental Illness

In this episode, Professor Rory O'Connor and Craig spoke to academic psychologist and author, Dr Lucy Foulkes. Lucy is currently a Prudence Trust Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, investigating how school-based mental health interventions may be causing adolescents harm. In...

04.11.2023

James Gwinnett & Building Mental Resilience

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to endurance athlete and motivational speaker, James Gwinnett. After a bad neck injury playing rugby, James developed depression due to his inactivity, which eventually included alcoholism. Four years later, he found redemption in...

03.28.2023

Dr Ben Alderson-Day and the Feeling That Someone Is Behind You

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to associate professor in psychology at Durham University, Dr Ben Alderson-Day. Ben’s research is broadly focused on mental health and neurodiversity. His current research is about “felt presence”, the sensation that someone...

03.14.2023

Dr Anne Duffy & Protecting Student Mental Health

In this episode, we spoke to Professor of Psychiatry at Queen’s University Kingston, and Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, Dr Anne Duffy. Anne has an extensive research background in understanding the development and early intervention of mental illness in...

12.06.2022

Tommy Lowther and Living With PTSD

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Armed Forces veteran and CEO of Sporting Force, Tommy Lowther. Tommy served with the British Army and subsequently with the Metropolitan Police. During both careers, he experienced several traumatic events, causing...

11.22.2022

Flo Sharman and the Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to mental health campaigner and MQ ambassador Flo Sharman. At four months old, Flo had a life-saving operation which caused her to stay in the hospital for several months. At age eight, Flo...

11.08.2022

Dr Rona Strawbridge & Manveer Sahota and the Link Between Physical and Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Dr Rona Strawbridge, a medical genetics research fellow at the University of Glasgow, and Manveer Sahota, an expert by lived experience and research participatory. Rona joined the show on behalf of DATAMIND,...

10.25.2022

What Would You Want Mental Health Research to Answer? ft Gemma Styles, AJ & Curtis Pritchard and Linda Lusardi

This week we have dancers AJ & Curtis Pritchard, actress Linda Lusardi, and MQ ambassador and returning Open Mind guest Gemma Styles. In this episode, we discuss what questions we would like mental health research to answer, the importance of finding...

10.11.2022

Prof Ann John and Utilising Mental Health Data

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Professor of Public Health and Psychiatry at Swansea University, Ann John. Ann is the Principal Investigator and Co-Director of DATAMIND, a Health Data Research Hub and a global resource for Mental...

09.27.2022

Revisiting the ’Gone Too Soon’ Webinar

In honour of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, this week, we’re re-releasing our Gone Too Soon webinar as a podcast episode. Hosted by MQ’s Bryony, the panel consisted of Professor Rory O’Connor, Dr Ruchika Gajwani, a clinical psychologist and MQ Fellow, and...

09.13.2022

Claire Eastham & Living With Panic Disorder

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to author and MQ ambassador Claire Eastham. Earlier this year, Claire released a book called ‘How I Learned to Live With Panic’, which explores anxiety and panic disorder whilst providing helpful knowledge...

08.30.2022

Nick Morgan and Protecting Youth Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Nick Morgan, the founder of the organization Euro Youth Mental Health, and activist and lived experience campaigner, Chryssi. Euro Youth Mental Health is a non-profit organization that advocates for children and young...

08.16.2022

Sophie Brigden & Supporting Military Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to MQ's latest ambassador and PTSD campaigner, Sophie Brigden. In 2007, Sophie developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after encountering a series of traumatic events while serving on tour in the British Army. In...

08.02.2022

Gemma Oaten and Living With an Eating Disorder

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to actress and eating disorder campaigner Gemma Oaten. Gemma is known for playing Rachel Breckle in the popular soap opera Emmerdale. At age 10, Gemma discovered that she had an eating disorder, although...

07.19.2022

Lily Bailey and Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to mental health activist and author Lily Bailey. At age 16, Lily was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, although her first experiences with OCD occurred during childhood. Recently, Lily released the children’s book,...

07.05.2022

Azeem Rafiq and the Impact of Racism on Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to MQ ambassador and cricket star, Azeem Rafiq. Azeem played cricket professionally in England for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. In 2020, Azeem shared his experiences of racism and bullying at Yorkshire, which became...

06.21.2022

James Downs and Embracing Lived Experience in Research

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to MQ ambassador and yoga instructor, James Downs. James is a member of the Gone Too Soon steering group, helping to shape the direction of MQ's next funding programme as an expert by...

06.07.2022

Amazin LeThi & Dr Jessica Schleider and Supporting LGBTQ+ Mental Health

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to athlete and LGBTQ+ advocate, Amazin LeThi, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology at Stonybrook University, Dr Jessica Schleider. In this episode, they spoke about supporting the mental health of the LGBTQ+...

05.24.2022

Leigh Timmis and Finding Your Purpose in Life

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to speaker and Guinness world record holder, Leigh Timmis. They spoke about self-improvement, finding your purpose, and breaking records. https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/home/

05.13.2022

Dr Alexandra Pitman and Identifying Loneliness

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Associate Professor in Psychiatry at UCL and Consultant Psychiatrist at Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Alexandra Pitman. They spoke about loneliness, the importance of inclusive research, and enjoying solitude. Links...

05.10.2022

Gemma Styles and the Importance of Doing Good

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to podcaster and journalist, Gemma Styles, to discuss doing good, the impact of social media on mental health, and raising money with sunglasses.

05.09.2022

MQ Open Mind is back!

Join Professor Rory O'Connor and MQ's Craig Perryman in this rebooted version of the MQ Open Mind podcast! In today's episode, they discuss who they are and why they got into mental health research.

01.15.2020

Ep 12: Tackling the rise in self-harm among young people

[Trigger warning: podcast references suicide and self-harm] Research suggests an increasing number of young people are self-harming – and more than half of them aren’t seeking help. It’s clear this issue is rising – but why? And what can we do about it? In...

07.29.2019

Ep 11: Can science tell us who's most likely to develop depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses and currently affects 1 in 10 people in the UK. But what if science could tell us who’s most likely to develop depression? Researcher Helen and MQ ambassador John join host Hannah to...

06.14.2019

Ep 10: Social media and mental health: The facts behind the headlines

Social media: is it good or bad for our mental health? We’ve been swamped with headlines talking about how damaging platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are to young people’s wellbeing. But the fact is there’s a lack of research...

02.18.2019

Ep 9: Young people's mental health: What's school got to do with it?

There’s a growing crisis in young people’s mental health. 75% of mental illness begins before the age of 18 - and 3 children in an average classroom are affected by a diagnosable condition. This new episode of MQ Open Mind explores...

09.05.2018

Ep 8: How can we work together to prevent suicide?

This new episode of MQ Open Mind marks World Suicide Prevention Day, and explores how we can all play a role in preventing suicide. We’re joined by Paul McGregor, a mental health campaigner who lost his dad to suicide when he was 18,...

02.27.2018

Ep 7: Why are women twice as likely to develop anxiety?

Women are at a far greater risk to anxiety compared to men. In this episode we explore why. Researcher Olivia Remes at the University of Cambrdige offers insight on the social factors, whilst Dr Bronwyn Graham at the University of New South...

02.12.2018

Ep 6: How does PTSD affect firefighters? And what can we do to stop it?

Mat Barlow, a firefighter, describes his battle with PTSD, triggered by an incident that took place whilst he was driving a fire engine. He describes some of the most tragic symptoms he’s experienced that affected his relationships, his family and...

11.20.2017

Ep 5: Can magic mushrooms treat depression?

How can psychedelic drugs be used to treat mental illness? Former government drugs tsar Professor David Nutt is investigating how psilocybin – the active ingredient in magic mushrooms – could be used to revolutionise treatment for depression. David explains why...

10.17.2017

Ep 4: A new way of thinking about OCD

For Rose Bretecher, OCD has never left her handwashing or ordering things, instead she has been overwhelmed by distressing sexual thoughts, ranging from child abuse to sexuality and explicit mental images. Rose tells her story and chats to Dr Claire...

08.14.2017

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