Mental Health Monday

Mick is joined by the brilliant Kelsey Parker on this week's podcast. Kelsey was married to The Wanted star Tom Parker, who died 18 months ago from a brain tumour. Kelsey discusses how we as a nation don't talk about grief enough, and what she learned about society's issue with it in the days and months after losing Tom. She was talking to the podcast from Tower Bridge in London, where a giant "el...

Mick takes a few moments to reflect on some amazing feedback we've had for our #LeaveALightOn project, and to encourage people who've heard it and want to share their story to speak out. Find out more about Leave A Light On You can email Mick at mick.coyle@bauermedia.co.uk You can contact him on Twitter and Instagram , and he's also ventured into Threads And Join the Mental Health Monday Facebook...

Today we launch Leave a Light On. As part of this latest project, Mick hears from mums and dads who've been bereaved by suicide, to share the story of what its like to lose a child in such tragic circumstances, and what we can all done to help bring down the UK's high suicide rate. Find out more about Leave A Light On On this episode you'll hear from John, Deanna, Jenetta, Mike and Steve who brave...

Mick is joined by actor, model and the man behind THO , Tommy Hatto. Tommy's teamed up with the Global Equality Collective to look into the issue of body image, and people's perceptions of themselves around the world. In this week's episode we explore Tommy's journey and how his experience inspired him to try and raise awareness off the issue in women AND in men. You can find out more about the Bo...

Mick is joined by yoga and wellbeing instructor Katie Scott as she launches a petition calling for children to be taught how to look after their mental health in schools. Katie has decades of experience working with young children and says the benefits that mindfulness can bring to a child's life are essential and long-lasting. Her experience of working in Merseyside schools has prompted her to ca...

Join us for part two of our podcast conversation with author Carrie Carlisle. Her new book Shut Up, Alcohol is topping the Amazon Charts, so its time to widen the conversation about our relationship with booze. We talk about the societal expectations around drink, drinking culture in the UK, and learning when you've reached your limits. Listen to part 1 of this conversatioon in episode 301 of Ment...

Mick is joined by mental health advocate, campaigner and author Carrie Carlisle on this week's podcast. Carrie's new book explores her relationship with alcohol, and the steps she takes today to stay on top of the grip it had over her for a number of years. In the conversation, she looks at the cultural and social reasons for starting to drink at a young age, as well as the devastating consequence...

Mick is joined by author Johnnie Lowery on the 300th episode of Mental Health Monday! Mick and Johnnie discuss his new book, which explores football's relationship with mental health from a club, player and fans point of view. The book is out now, and available in shops and online Johnnie also discusses his own mental health journey, and why he took up the decision to quit alcohol in January of th...

Mick is joined by Jenetta Barry on this week's episode. 18 years ago, Jenetta lost her daughter Jenny to suicide. She was aged just 16. Jenetta explores her journey in the days, weeks months and years before and after it happened, and how she tries to use her experience to help and support others. This August, a team of people are embarking on a Kilimanjaro challenge to raise funds to help support...

Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Mick Coyle meets CEO of Ditch The Label, Liam Hackett. DTL are a youth charity offering advice, resources, and access to counselling services to people impact by mental health problems, bullying and much more. In 2023 they're launching a therapy service in the "metaverse" which will allow young people to access counsellors in an online world. They're also t...

This week Mick has some brilliant news about our sister-podcast Football Untold . Following the six-part series featuring football players sharing their stories about gambling addiction, sponsors Beacon Counselling Trust saw a 200% increase in the number of peoople coming forward to get help. This translates as "hundreds" of men getting advice, support or therapy in regards their gambling, after h...

Mick is joined by Mair Howells from the I've Been Spiked campaign In his "other" job as Senior News Editor for Bauer Media Audio, Mick has been leading a national investigation into spiking, looking at how common it is, who is being targeted, and what powers authorities need to bring perpetrators to justice. The investigation heard how: 11% of women have been spiked So have 6% of men Only 1/10 cas...

Mick is joined by actor and writer Natasha Rea, ahead of taking her "A Night With Me, Myself and Bipolar Brenda" performance to the Edinburgh Fringe. Natasha explores her bipolar journey, and how late diagnosis made her think back to earlier moments in her life when it may have been a factor. She explores her school days, the pressures of performing, and how she creates characters to help he son u...

Mick is joined by mental health advocate Jack Dodd in episode 294 of Mental Health Monday. Jack discusses his experience of losing his dad at a young age, living with OCD, dealing with bullying, and how all of those things built up to impact his mental health. Jack also talks about how opening up the taboo conversation of crying at work, through the LinkedIn social media channel, saw him go viral...

Mick is joined by architect and app creator Gareth Dauncey . Gareth's on the programme to talk about how his mental health breakthrough (during the lockdown period) inspired him to help other people get a better understanding of their own mental health. He describes how colour-coding his days, based on how he was feeling, was the starting point for the idea behind the Mood app, which is available...

Mick Coyle is in Parliament this week at a Baton of Hope event at the prestigious Terrace Pavillion in Westminster. Mick was representing the Bauer Media Where's Your Head At? campaign - which secured more than 200,000 signatures on a petition calling for mental health first aiders to be available to in all UK workplaces. The event was hosted by Dean Russell MP, and was highlighting the Baton of H...

Mick is joined by legendary club DJ Brandon Block on episode 291 of Mental Health Monday. Brandon shares his story of addiction, and how he used SMART recovery to find the tools to move on with his life in a safe way. Brandon struggled with cocaine use, alongside anxiety and imposter syndrome at the height of his fame. Combined with Hepatitis C and Tuberculosis, he lost half a lung and doctors gav...

Back after a never-ending series of bank holidays, Mental Health Monday takes a look at the theme of this year's Mental Health Awareness Week - Anxiety. Mick is joined by Sahara, who is taking part in the BACP's new AI Art project , which is creating computer generated images inspired by the spoken and written words of people who struggle with anxiety. Sahara describes what life was like for her g...

Mick has some exciting news about a new Podcast series he's been working on with a team of footballers past and present. Football Untold will look at the darker side of the beautiful game, and the first series focuses on players who've struggled with gambling problems. Former Burnley and Preston defender Clarke Carlisle, Ex-Wigan, Tranmere and Wales striker Simon Haworth, Ex-Spurs, Liverpool and Q...

Mick Coyle is joined by GB Paralympian Amy Conroy. Amy is on the podcast to talk about her mental health journey, discussing grief, family support, overcoming physical illness, and finding new goals in life. Amy was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13, and had already lost her mum to the illness. She lost a leg as part of her treatment, but showed immense strength to seek new goals, and found h...

Mick Coyle is joined by former gymnast Gaby Santacruz on this week's Podcast. Gaby recently gave a Tedx talk about how growing up as a gymnast in Ecuador impacted her mental health, and how the culture around seeking "perfection" started to have a negative impact on her sense of wellbeing. In this podcast she explores how the echoes of her childhood experience in gymnastics affected her ability to...

Mick Coyle is joined by first time author Chris Roberts. Chris explores how writing his new book about the state of the game of football helped him through a difficult spell in his life Chris talks about living with grief, depressive and suicidal thoughts, and how the focus of the book, and the support he's received from organisations like Sean's Place have put him on a better path. The book itsel...

Mick is joined by Carrie and Clarke Carlisle as they launch their new mental health qualification at the University of Central Lancashire. Clarke is an ex-footballer with Burnley FC, Leeds United, Blackpool, Preston, Northampton, Watford and York. He's also ex-Chair of the PFA, and has shared his story on Mental Health Monday about his battles against depression and suicidal thoughts in the past N...

Mick Coyle is joined by Psychologist Dr Terri Apter to discuss the findings of a five year long study by The Female Lead . The research looked at how teenage girls and young women felt about their social media use, and themselves, if they followed more "positive" role models in their feeds instead of a typical airbrushed celebrity. The results are in, and offer an insight into how we might all be...

Mick Coyle is joined by Associate Professor of Psychology at Middlesex University, Dr Lisa Marzano. Dr Lisa is teaming up with Samaritans, Network Rail and the British Transport Police as part of their Small Talk Saves Lives campaign. As part of the campaign, a new survey has found how people often feel uncomfortable with the idea of approaching someone who might be in a mental health crisis. Dr L...