We talk to Lexi Watkins a Mental Health Practitioner & Data Analyst and James Lindsay – Author of ‘Befriending My Brain: A Psychosis Story’, both with lived experience of schizoaffective disorder to try understand this commonly misunderstood condition.

People severely affected by mental illness deserve the right support at the right time and to have a good quality of life. That’s why Rethink Mental Illness exists. But identifying whether or not our work is achieving that for people using our services is a difficult thing to measure. This week, we chat to Brian Dow, deputy CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, and Richard McManus, Head of Evidence and Impact, to better understand how we prove we’re doing the right things.

Carol Morley is an English film director, screenwriter and producer. In 2015, Carol was awarded a Wellcome screenwriting fellowship which inspired  her latest film, which she has both written and directed, called Typist Artist Pirate King.  

The film is based on the life of artist Audrey Amiss, who lived with severe mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia. She was enrolled at the Royal Academy of Arts until her studies were cut short by her first breakdown and she had struggled to establish herself within the art scene during her life. She was hospitalised many times, becoming a ‘care in the community’ patient, but she never stopped creating art, documenting nearly every aspect of her life. 

The film features familiar faces such as Monica Dolan, Kelly Macdonald and Gina McKee and is released in UK cinemas on October 27. 

For over 30 years Kenny struggled to find a way to ease his depression. But after seeing an advert for a therapeutic comedy course, Kenny’s life changed forever. In this episode, we’re thrilled to chat to Kenny about discovering his new passion and to Angie Belcher, a professional stand-up comedian and facilitator of Comedy on Referral. The course was co-designed with men who have attempted to take their own lives or had lost someone to suicide, and uses comedy to help people move through trauma. Thanks to North West London Integrated Care Board for funding the Comedy on Referral and our partners Central North West London Recovery & Wellbeing College, NHS London Trust, The Recovery College and NHS Central London, North West London NHS Foundation Trust  and The Comedy Store.

The HMT Empire Windrush ship brought one of the first large groups of Caribbean people to the UK in 1948. The positive legacy created by the Windrush Generation goes without question, contributing to the NHS and other sectors affected by Britain’s post-war labour shortage. 75 years on, we look at the Windrush Generation’s achievements; the state of 1940s and 50s UK; the impact on the generation’s mental health, and the devastation caused by the Windrush scandal, which continues today. Led by Peter Alleyne, Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Race Equality at Rethink Mental Illness, the podcast’s expert panel includes Rethink Mental Illness Trustee Garrick Prayogg, Director of Learning Links International Liz Millman, and Co-founder of Justice For Windrush Generation Roland Houslin.

Kevin Francis recently left prison after a four-and-a-half year sentence for drugs-related offences. In our latest podcast, Tom O'Neill from the Campaigns and Communications team chats to Kevin about how difficulties with work, relationships, and being a father put a strain on his mental health; the unfortunate impact of a friendship at a vulnerable time leading up to his arrest; his time in prison, and his new life as a Care Navigator in the Rethink Mental Illness Reconnect Service, helping prisoners secure jobs, connect with their families, and navigate the complex mental health system. We’re incredibly grateful for Kevin’s openness about his experiences and his passion to influence the lives of others. 

In the second episode in our podcast series for Mental Health Awareness Week, Rethink Mental Illness ambassador, comedian, actor, writer and speaker, Juliette Burton, and Derbyshire Support Development Worker and chef, Ben Gough speak to our Director of Communications, James Harris about what it’s like living with anxiety disorders, and how this differs from ‘normal’ anxiety. What causes us to feel overwhelmed, what are the symptoms and how can we help ourselves to manage these (with and without medication) – including by trying to balance the tough times with having some fun!

In this episode, Brian and Glenn from Rethink Mental Illness, speak to Victoria Shepherd, the producer and author of the book and podcast ‘The History of Delusions’. Though psychosis is often considered to be something that is ‘out of the ordinary’, Victoria argues that delusions are actually rooted in real-life anxieties and fears; a way of coping with the paradoxes and complexities of the human experience. Glenn reflects on his own experience of schizophrenia, sharing his thoughts on stigma, psychosis treatment and the important practice of empathy and compassion.

Our Deputy CEO, Brian, sits down for a chat with neuroscientist and author Dean Burnett to discuss some personal trauma around COVID and his new book Psycho-logical which examines how our mental health can go wrong.