On our latest episode, Stuart and Bethan discuss mental health at Christmas. In what ways Christmas can be good for your mental health, and what things can impact your mental health around this time of year. They speak to Ed Davie, Communities Lead at the Mental Health Foundation about how you can look after your mental health at Christmas through focusing in on your needs, setting boundaries, taking up volunteering and much more. Links: Tips on looking after your mental health at...

On our latest podcast episode, Stuart and Bethan discuss the stiff upper lip mantra, our Christmas appeal and our new report with ThriveLDN. Joining them, is co-chair of the ThriveLDN steering group, Jacqui Dyer and Ed Davie, Communities Lead at the Mental Health Foundation. Ed has led our community workshops across London, where we spoke to more than 1,000 Londoners about how we can improve the city's mental health. Links: ‘Stiff upper lip bad for mental health, Professor Green warns’:...

In this episode Ben Norris chats to Bethan Buswell openly, frankly and honestly about his family and relationships, how he recovered when his life took an unexpected turn and shares day to day tips on looking after his mental health. ~~~~ Ben Norris is a poet, playwright and actor. In this podcast you will gain insight into his relationship with his father. How turning the spotlight on this relationship through his work helped them to develop. You will also hear about the dark period he went...

This November at the Mental Health Foundation, we're focusing on men's mental health. So, in this podcast episode, we decided to invite three men to join Stuart to talk about various topics relating to mental health. The panelists were comedian Dave Chawner, entrepreneur George Tiley and actor and writer Ben Norris. The panel discussed routine, exercise, mindfulness and support, among other things. The guys certainly had fun recording it, we hope you enjoy listening. If you are a man...

Visiting museums could help us slow our rate of cognitive decline, according to a new paper published in the British Journal of Psychiatry. In this episode, we speak to one of the authors of that paper, Daisy Fancourt, about the research and why it suggested that museums may be of benefit in slowing cognitive decline. We also discussed some of the limitations of the research and guarded against visiting museums being seen as a cure. We're also joined by Dr Derek Tracy, from the editorial...

Ali Blatcher was a a junior doctor, and a year ago she was admitted to a psychiatric ward. She talks to Stuart about the stress that accompanies the medical profession, what support is needed to change this, her experience of a psychiatric ward, how self-care and support have helped her, and how creativity has been therapeutic for her as well as being a tool for raising awareness. We also discuss the BBC's loneliness experiment, our new Make it Count campaign and speak to the Foundation's...

What state is children's mental health in? What are the issues facing young people and their mental health? What can schools, parents, friends and society do to help? Our latest podcast episode comes on World Mental Health Day 2018, the theme of which is young people and mental health in a changing world. Stuart Hill speaks to Jane Caro, Programme Lead for Children, Young People and Families at the Mental Health Foundation who gives her thoughts on a vitally important topic and introduces...

Many of us have received treatments for our mental health. These can range from a drug, to talking therapy and, at the extreme end, to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But how often do we think about why we're getting that treatment and what the evidence behind it is? In our latest episode, in partnership with the British Journal of Psychiatry, we look at the pros and cons of the randomised controlled trial - the accepted gold standard for health research for a long time. We also discuss...

On this episode, Stuart Hill speaks to Jonathan Bartley - activist, campaigner and co-leader of the Green Party. Jonathan talks about the economy and how he thinks it's affecting our wellbeing. What could be done to improve things? Jonathan is a keen proponent of the ideas of a four-day working week and universal basic income. He thinks it will reduce inequality, which we know is a key driver of mental ill health. What do you think of Jonathan's views?

How a damaging work culture can affect mental health by Mental Health Foundation

It's Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 and so on the podcast we're talking to our Director of Communications and Fundraising Mark Rowland. Mark discusses why we're focusing on stress, the findings from our new survey on stress and what we can do to tackle it. Find out more at https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week

In this episode Byron Vincent; a performance artist with lived experience of bipolar disorder, talks openly to his friends about their own experience of mental ill health. He talks to his friend Tim Clare; author, poet and podcaster, about his lived experience of anxiety and depression. Byron and Tim navigate the conversation through laughter, compassion, honesty and the safety of a trusted friendship.

On this episode we speak to Dr Amy Pollard of the Mental Health Foundation's policy team. Amy recently wrote a paper about the mental health of young women and girls. The paper found that things are deteriorating and, even worse, that the issue has been slipping down the policy agenda at the same time. We discuss the issue and what can be done to prevent it getting worse. You can read the paper here:https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/mental-health-young-women-and-girls

We interviewed Johann Hari who has recently made a highly-publicised contribution to the conversation on mental health with his book Lost Connections. The book has received endorsements from names as diverse as Hilary Clinton, Elton John and Alistair Campbell and provoked a wider discussion among people from all sides of the debate. At the Mental Health Foundation we are keen to hear all different viewpoints. Listen to the interview and see what you think. You can buy the book at:...

Mental Health Foundation and The British Journal of Psychiatry podcast This episode discusses themes around the paper: ‘Mortality gap for people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: UK-based cohort study’ found in The British Journal of Psychiatry. Aaron Kandola (Research Officer at the Mental Health Foundation) is joined by Derek Tracy (Psychiatrist in South London and Kings College Hospital, and sits on the Editorial Board of The British Journal of Psychiatry), Amy Pollard (Policy...

In our latest podcast, we spoke to Will Flint. Bodybuilder Will was stabbed 12 times in the early hours of 1 January 2017. He sustained serious physical injuries and his life was at risk. He fought through it and survived, but he also experienced significant psychological challenges after the attack. He tells us about those and how he has been able to manage his mental health since the attack. Will is also raising money for the Mental Health Foundation. He has developed a product called...

In the latest of our podcasts in partnership with the British Journal of Psychiatry, we discuss a recent paper on government spending on mental health. And for the first time in the series, we have the paper's author with us. Dr Tatiana Taylor Salisbury, lecturer at King's College London, joined us to discuss her paper Relationship between national mental health expenditure and quality of care in longer-term psychiatric and social care facilities in Europe: cross-sectional study which...

What is computerised cognitive behavioural therapy? Who is it aimed at? Does it fill a gap? Who does it work for? Who doesn't it work for? Why? We discuss all this in the latest of our series with the British Journal of Psychiatry. On the panel for this episode: - Lauren Chakkalackal, Senior Research Officer at the Mental Health Foundation - Aaron Kandola, Research Officer at the Mental Health Foundation - Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Senior Lecturer...

This podcast is a free 3-minute breathing space narrated by Ed Halliwell – one of the world's leading teachers of mindfulness. You can listen to it whenever you feel tense and it is a simple and great way to calm your mind and body down. It also gives you a flavour of our online mindfulness course Be Mindful - which is co-presented by Ed. For more information on Be Mindful and how you could learn mindfulness skills that last a lifetime, visit www.BeMindfulOnline.com

With Mental Health Awareness Week fast approaching, the Mental Health Foundation's Director of Fundraising and Communications Mark Rowland joins us to discuss this year's theme of Surviving or Thriving? To find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/mhaw

A recent study looking at the mental health of medical students found that over 27% of medical students in 47 countries showed symptoms of depression. Why is this? Does it translate to the rest of the student population? What can we do to prevent it? How can we support students who experience mental ill health? In our latest podcast with the British Journal of Psychiatry, Lauren Chakkalackal is joined by Derek Tracy of the British Journal and the Mental Health Foundation's Anna Hoang and...

In this episode, our panel look at so-called internet gaming disorder, prompted by a recent academic study. They discuss internet gaming, the potential risks, but also the benefits that gaming can bring, both to life in general (children doing maths homework, for example) and to protecting and sustaining good mental health. This is the second episode in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Internet Gaming Disorder:...

Naomi tells her inspirational story of how she changed her life with the help of the Mental Health Foundation's Young Mums Together project. Naomi, mum to four-year-old Zach, had a tough upbringing, spending time in the care system and experiencing gang violence. She needed people to listen to her. Through Young Mums Together, Naomi has been given support, advice and, vitally, self-confidence. And Zach is reaping the rewards, too. Read Naomi's story:...

In this episode, our panel look at traumatic events and how the effects may not just be localised to where the attacks take place. They look at some interesting evidence in the context of 9/11 which suggests that the psychological effects can travel thousands of miles. This is part two of the first in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Increased incidence rate of trauma- and stressor-related disorders in Denmark after...

In this podcast, our panel have a lively discussion on the treatment of depression and look at why some people may not be getting the treatment they need and why some people are being treated when they shouldn't be. This is the first in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Treatment of Depression in the United States", which was published in the JAMA Internal Medicine journal and highlighted in the Kaleidoscope section...