Mental Health Monday

Mick Coyle is joined by author Lisa Brett - who's written a book called "Finding Happiness When It Hurts" Lisa uses her own journey, and the stories of others, to give advice on how to reflect on more difficult times, find positivity in the smallest of places and give yourself a chance to rebuild after grief, loss or trauma. Her book is available now Host Mick Coyle is on Twitter/X , Linkedin and...

It might be July - but Movember 's fast approaching. The international campaign focussed on men's mental and physical health is nearly upon us once again - and this year there's a big focus on inequality. 2/5 men will die prematurely - but where they live is a key factor to how long they live. Mick has pulled together the main findings of the new Movember report in this article Joining us on the p...

Mick Coyle is talking self esteem as a new BACP survey finds half of women are affected by self esteem issues - with body image the biggest factor, followed by social comparisons, careers, and romantic relationships. Joining him on this week's episode is Henna Mistry - who has tackled her own issues with self esteem, and found a way through using a BACP therapist and helping create a new network o...

Mick Coyle is joined by Owen Wood from Race Across the World Owen - alongside his race partner Alfie - starred in the latest BBC series travelling through the Far East on a tight budget and even tighter timescale. Now he's back in the UK he's teaming up with The Mix - a charity that supports young people through all aspects of life - to further open up the conversation about mental health. On the...

Mick is joined by Ellen Roome on this week's podcast. Ellen's son Jools Sweeney died suddenly in 2022, he was aged 14. A coroner ruled they couldn't register his death as suicide, because there we no signs he intended to take his life. The narrative verdict has left Jools' family with many questions. Ellen's now looking for answers through his social media - to see if that offers any insight into...

Mick Coyle is joined by James Cooper on this week's podcast James is currently running a marathon every single day in 2024. He'll complete 366 between now and the end of the year! He was inspired to take on the challenge as part of his Smilinggg Project , which he set up after having a difficult time with his own mental health in 2014/15. James also lost an uncle to suicide - and will be raising m...

How do I talk to my child about mental health? Mick is joined by dad and CBBC presenter Nigel Clarke  on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast. Nigel is lending his voice to a new animated series that helps children learn about their emotions - while also equipping parents with the tools to have conversations about mental health in a safe way. Embers the Dragon has launched to mark Mental Healt...

Artist Gawain Hewitt is this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast guest. Gawain works in art and music, and leads music sessions at several psychiatric hospitals, including Royal Bethlem, Springfields and Lavender Walk. He discusses how music can create pathways for people to explore their feelings, and find connections when words are not enough. He also designs and builds instruments, and is curre...

Mick is joined by returning guest Steve Phillip, founder and director of The Jordan Legacy. Steve featured in episode 189 of Mental Health Monday, and was part of the #LeaveALightOn project. Steve's latest project sees him teaming up with some incredible individuals and organisations for the Join The Dots tour across the North of England in June 2024. Starting in Scunthorpe, and ending on Merseysi...

Chris Ross is a powerful guest on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast. Chris shares his story of dealing with trauma, depression and suicidal thoughts - and how he turned his life around as a self-styled "mentality monster" who now supports others in their mental health journey. Chris talks about the very difficult issues he's faced, but also the measures he's now put in place to give himself...

Mick Coyle meets Nicole Antoniou, CEO of The Butterfly Squad, in this week's podcast. The Butterfly Squad is a project and animated series to help children build resilience, understand their emotions and give themselves the best chance at being the best version of themselves. Nicole sets out why the project started and the results she's seen since it began. You can find out more on the Butterfly S...

Mick Coyle is joined by author of The Visual Detox Marine Tanguy on this week's podcast. Marine's new book explores how our brain deals with looking at so many images on daily basis - adverts, billboards, social media posts, TV screens and beyond. The book looks at ways you can apply more critical thinking what you see, and asks questions about what sort of towns, cities and communities we want to...

Mick Coyle is joined by Grime legend Big Narstie on this week's podcast. pic credit © Alamy The main man is here to talk about how his life changed forever after appearing on the Celebrity Bake Off, and how his new health regime is allowing him to make plans for the future. We'll hear how weight loss, and improved fitness have made a difference to his life, and how he's hoping to share some of his...

Mick Coyle is joined by Dave Lock aka London Marathon icon "Dave the Running Telephone". Dave reveals he's signed up to race in this years event, and how his own mental health journey led him to fundraise for Samaritans. He speaks of his own journey, and losing his brother to suicide last year, and how that's a solemn reminder of why Samaritans is such a good cause to support. Pic Credit © Alamy F...

Mick Coyle is joined by Emma and Amie from the The Lucy Rayner Foundation The LRF has has collaborated with Snapchat to design a new lens that helps users create a snap which talks about their feelings and how they might want someone to talk to. It's utilising every-day technology to make a difference to the lives of young social media users. Emma tells Mick about where the foundation has come fro...

Mick Coyle takes a look at the finding's of the Prince's Trust Natwest Youth Index 2024, on the day of its release. Mick is joined by Naomi Ennis - who created Animal Teach. Naomi shares her own story of growing up dealing with anxiety and other issues at home, and how she uses her story to help inspire young people. Alongside Naomi is Rachel Edwards - Head of Delivery Partnerships and Volunteerin...

Mick Coyle is joined by mental health campaigner and author Dr Alex George on this week's Mental Health Monday Podcast. Dr Alex is here to talk about starting 2024 on the right footing.  Photo credit: © Alamy New data from Nationwide shows 82% of people expect this January to be the worst ever when it comes to our finances - a tough start to 2024. On top of how we feel about ourselves and our outl...

Mick Coyle is back for 2024 with a new episode of Mental Health Monday. Mick is joined by Simon Blake from MHFA England, to talk about the results of a new survey which looks at how people can be struggling in their workplace. Simon walks us through the findings, and talks about the implications for workplaces and the positive steps offices, factories and organisations can take to make a differenc...

Mick Coyle has the latest figures of suicides registered in England and Wales for 2022 (released 19th Dec 2023) He goes through the ONS data, and discusses the findings with Jake Mills from Chasing the Stigma - a suicide survivor and founder of the Hub of Hope. Find out more about the 2022 suicide data You can find mental health services using the Hub of Hope . If someone's life is in danger, call...

Mick Coyle is joined by East 17 singer and songwriter Tony Mortimer. Tony is on the show to talk about his Christmas mega-hit Stay Another Day, and the impact music has had on his and our lives, particularly during the festive season. He hit the top spot with the song in 1994. 29 years later, a tongue in cheek remake by Lidl is helping secure a £100,000 donation to the NSPCC to support children's...

Mick is joined by Sarah Sternberg from Movember - as the charity launches the first ever Global Men's Health Institute. The multi-million pound investment over the next five years will aim to drive research, collect information and inform change that will help men live longer and healthier lives. Stats show two in five currently die before the age of 75, and live on average five years fewer than w...

Photo credit © Alamy Mick is joined by footballer Jake Daniels for episode 310 of Mental Health Monday. Jake became the first UK player since Justin Fashanu in 1990 to announce he was gay, in May 2022. 18 months later he sits down with Mick Coyle to discuss his mental health at the time, and the journey he took before and after that monumental step. The conversation comes as a new survey from L'Or...

Mick Coyle is joined by two guests on this week's podcast. First, we'll hear from Elissa, who's sharing her story of problem gambling and the impact it had on her life. In the last four years, some gambling services have seen an 80% rise in female users. Elissa explains how gambling took hold of her from a young age, and stayed with her, until things escalated into her 30s. She talks openly about...

Mick is joined by Rob Wotton on this week's podcast. You might recognise Rob from presenting on Sky Sports News - but when he's not on our screens, he's working as a trained BACP counsellor helping people deal with their mental health issues. Mick and Rob discuss how Rob uses his experience as a sports journalist to create appropriate analogies with his clients, and how men can educate themselves...

Mick Coyle looks into the number of men receiving support for depression on this week's episode. New stats from BACP shows 52% of therapists are seeing a rise in the number of men coming forward to get support. At the same time, just over half say men are put off the idea of getting therapy because of societal pressures and stigma. Dan Reid shares his story in this week's episode - he reached out...