Recovery Devon Podcast

When Tom approached us a few months ago, he had a slightly unusual take on recovery in mind. Tom is a "cosplayer" - someone who roleplays in costume as a hobby - and it's a lot more popular than we realised.  As word about Tom's idea got out, more and more people agreed that cosplay had helped them, and asked to join in. With a whopping seven people in the final Zoom room, it's been our best-attended podcast so far!

Our chat includes cosplayers Tom, Kev, and Erin, live-action roleplayer Anne, and specialist cosplay photographer Jo of Fab Fantasy UK (who was kind enough to photograph some of our cosplayers for our website - thank you Jo!). Hosted by Jody and Em from the Recovery Devon team, the gang explores why stepping into costume can be magical for mental health. It's a great way to connect with emotions, get creative, and find your tribe. The fun really shines through!

Links mentioned in the podcast:

Fab Fantasy UK
Article - "The Neuroscience of Game of Thrones"
Dumnonni Chronicles
UK Cosplay Community
AniMangaPop Club
London Super Comic Con And Beyond

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Hayley McLean is a Devon mum of 3 children and author of the multi-award-winning blog, Sparkles & Stretchmarks. Hayley blogs about life as a home-schooling mum, gender stereotypes within society, as well as sharing open, honest and realistic accounts of her own lived mental health and life experiences.

Hayley is a huge advocate for the #BodyPositive movement and regularly writes about her experience, whilst also encouraging others to love and accept themselves. Hayley also talks to a lot of groups, charities and social media channels about her experience with Body Positivity. 

This podcast is a recording of her talk at a Recovery Devon’s Phoenix Night. Hayley spoke to us about her lived experiences of body shaming and societal beauty standards, her journey toward body acceptance and shame-free living, and the Body Positivity movement itself as well as how we can all start to accept, respect and embrace the skin we live in.

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It's a podcast to lift your spirits this time; we gathered some Devon musicians for a lively chat about finding solace in sound.

We've a wide range of experiences in the Zoom room, from not knowing where to start, to making a living out of music. How does music call to us? What difference can it make to our lives? And is there any such thing as a "proper musician?"

Joining us are Jak Lewis, off to a great start in his career with a recent SW England Prestige Award for "Local Performer Of The Year." Rachel Thame and Deborah Woollaston share their vision as Moor To Sea music collective of a society that values everybody's human need for music.

Recovery Devon director Mike Smith dons another of his many hats, speaking today as songwriter and open mic regular. North Devon favourite Jim "Smalltown" Jones brings a wealth of heart and experience. Finally, host Em Flint holds a space for the "musically terrified!"

We hope this podcast helps you connect with music as a powerful, accessible force for expression and connection. Put some tunes on, pick up an instrument, join a choir or band... the message we're sending is, with music you can't go wrong!

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In this episode we are talking about perinatal mental health, for both mums and dads, and it goes live in support of Maternal Mental Health week.  We explore the challenges of parenthood, what it's like to go through postnatal depression and intrusive thoughts, the pressures of social media on new parents, unrealistic expectations and also what help is out there for both parents.

We are joined by Selina Dare who works for Bluebell Care, a charity that supports families through depression and anxiety that's related to pregnancy and/or birth. Selina tells us all about Bluebell and what the Devon team can offer, including new support for dads!

We are also joined by Rachel and Phil, a couple who accessed Bluebells support after the birth of their daughter. Rachel and Phil talk open and honestly about their experience with postnatal depression, intrusive thoughts and how talking and sharing with other parents can help.

In this episode we talk about intrusive thoughts so please do take care when listening if this is something that may affect you. It's important to mention that if you are experiencing intrusive thoughts then you are not alone. We encourage that you to speak to your GP or support that is in your area.  Intrusive thoughts can be overwhelming but it is something that can be supported and (as Selina talks about in the episode) has no indication on your moral compass.

Bluebell Care has groups in Bristol and Devon. The Devon team have support for both mums and dads. To get in touch please visit https://bluebellcare.org or email [email protected]
Or you can complete their self referral form here: https://bluebellcare.org/how-to-refer/referal-form-little-bluebell/

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Recorded on Self Harm Awareness Day 2021, our courageous conversation reflects on the "prevention at all costs" model. We focus instead on why self-harm arises, how it manifests, and ask how lived experience can inform service delivery.

Em Flint is joined by Marie Ash and Courtney Sommer. Marie's many mental health and suicide prevention hats include Senior Peer Support Worker with Devon Partnership Trust, Chairman of Ask for Jake, and director of Recovery Devon. Courtney is a PhD student of Sociology of Medicine at the University of Exeter. An activist and trainer with Action to Prevent Suicide, she recently co-founded Make Space, a community capable of holding and supporting people who are self-harming.

This conversation includes wide references to self-harm and suicidality, so please take care as you listen.

Resources we mention:
Chill Project - Cold water swimming for wellbeing
National Survivor User Network
Devon Partnership Trust's guide to self harm and services
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

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How can moving your body make a difference to mental health recovery? 

Often we treat mental health “from the neck up.” Creatively engaging with how our bodies feel, function, and move can help us better understand ourselves and our relationship to the world. 

Today we’re talking to people who work therapeutically with the moving body. What can movement or dance offer that’s different than sitting with a therapist? What might we expect during a movement therapy session? How might we invite movement into our lives if it’s become unfamiliar, or even challenging for us?

This podcast was recorded over Zoom during a third U.K. lockdown, with lack of movement beginning to cause difficulties for many people, as well as lack of human touch. During this chat, we briefly discuss therapeutic contact. Whilst Devon Partnership Trust does not include touch or contact in its services (during lockdown or otherwise), we hear how other providers offer this safely and appropriately. 

Karen Dudley is a Dance Movement Psychotherapist working within Devon Partnership Trust. Paul Beaumont is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist with ISMETA (International Somatic Movement Education & Therapy Association). He’s also a teacher, supervisor, and practitioner with IBMT (Institute for Integrative Bodywork & Movement Therapy). They’re joined by our community development workers Em Flint (who is in her second year of IBMT training) and Sami Goulding, who also holds an MA in Dance Movement Psychotherapy.

Useful links for this episode:

https://www.dpt.nhs.uk/our-services/psychology-and-psychological-therapies

https://ibmt.co.uk/

https://www.paulbeaumont.net/

https://admp.org.uk/

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North Devon Instagram sensation Harriet Knock joins us for a wide-ranging conversation to brighten a dark, lockdown night!

Harriet set up @making_ahouse_ahome as a way to share how cleaning helped her recovery with anxiety. From a simple account to help her focus, she's gone on to attract over 27,000 followers. Her down-to-earth stories of keeping her space bright and comfortable for herself and her young family have developed into sponsorships, vlogging, and even entering the world of book publication.

We talk about why our home environment can make such a difference to our recovery - and some of the challenges of holding yourself to too high a standard. Her #OneTaskADay philosophy helps! Harriet also explains how social media can either help or hinder our mental wellbeing, and how to keep the balance right. She also reads from her poetry anthology "Emerging from the Storms."

Content warning - a brief reference to self-harm (with a very positive message!)

Em also mentions a website she used 15 years ago and it's still running: http://www.flylady.net/. Thanks, FlyLady!

Find out more about Harriet on her Instagram page or her blog. You can order copies of "Emerging from the Storms" here. Harriet is generously donating copies for loan to the Devon Recovery Learning Community's drop-in libraries.

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Season 2 begins! We kick off season 2 with a talk from Dr Tom Cant about Peer Supported Open Dialogue. This episode was recorded from a live audience Zoom event as part of our Phoenix Nights. 

Dr Tom Cant talks to us about how Peer Supported Open Dialogue is working within Devon Partnership trust, how it begin and what makes it so needed and valuable within our Mental Health system. He talks openly about the theory behind Open Dialogue and how we can embrace this new way of working with people to really understand their social community and what it is they need to move forward. 

This presentation also includes PowerPoint slides which you can find on our website, linked below.

https://recoverydevon.co.uk/2021/peer-supported-open-dialogue-podcast/

Tom Cant can be contacted via email at [email protected]

More info on Open Dialogue can be found here; http://open-dialogue.net

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What part does humour play in keeping your mental health on track? Can a lighthearted joke lift you in difficult times, or does dark humour give you some relief? Is "losing your sense of humour" a useful early earning sign? Or could you even be missing your vocation as a comedian?

In this lively episode, James and Em from the Recovery Devon team are joined by Dr Maggie Irving, comedy teacher and performer, Dan "Fitz" Fitzpatrick from the South West standup circuit, and Bryn Thomas, a student and friend of both, who is learning the craft.

Maggie offers all sorts of exciting courses to explore comedy in your life here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/maggie-irving-6470711117
And blogs on the psychology of humour here:
https://drmaggieirving.blogspot.com/

You can follow Fitz's shows at his website here:
https://www.fitzofgiggles.com/

We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making this one. Let us know what you think!

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We're joined this time by Max Cohen and Rea Pearson to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity. Are there some particular mental health challenges for different LGBTQ+ communities, and how can organisations like It's All About You Wellbeing offer tailored help?

Historical perspectives are considered alongside current affairs, and we share ideas and exercises around gender identity.

Max has provided a rich variety of resources to support this podcast, which can be found here: https://recoverydevon.co.uk/2020/itsallaboutyoupodcast/ 

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