MQ Open Mind

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews broadcaster, author, and psychologist Claudia Hammond. Known for her work presenting All in the Mind on BBC Radio 4 and other science and psychology programmes across radio and television, Claudia has spent much of her career making psychological research accessible to wider audiences. They discuss the ideas explored in Claudia’s latest book, Ove...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Dr Catherine Harmer, a Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and a member of the MQ Science Council. Her research focuses on understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying depression and how treatments, including antidepressants, work in the brain. They discuss emerging medicinal interventions for mental heal...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Dr Daisy Singla, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto, a clinical psychologist and researcher whose work focuses on global mental health and improving access to evidence-based psychological treatments. She is also a member of the MQ Science Council. They discuss women’s mental health, exploring the uniq...

What is trauma? Conversations about trauma often focus on individual experiences. But trauma can also be shaped by social and political contexts, affecting entire communities as well as the people within them. In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Professor Orla Muldoon, Head of Department and Professor of Psychology at Queen’s University Belfast. Her research explores the links betw...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Professor Andrew McIntosh, a psychiatrist and researcher specialising in the genetics of mental health at the University of Edinburgh. They discuss Andrew’s background in psychiatry and genomics, and how his work aims to better understand the biological underpinnings of mental health conditions. The conversation explores the growing role of genom...

Season 4 of Open Mind has been an incredible journey, and we want to thank you for tuning in to the first half of the series. We hope it offered new insights into mental health research, while also helping you reflect on your own experiences and those of the people around you. In this special episode, we revisit some of the conversations that resonated most with our audience, highlighting the pers...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor is joined by Brian Dow, Deputy CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, Aphra Tulip-Briggs, Lived Experience Expert and Trustee at Rethink, and Mariana Bolivar, Research Lead at MQ Mental Health Research. They discuss the new joint report from MQ and Rethink Mental Illness, which outlines ten key changes needed to transform mental health research in the UK. Their con...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor speaks with Jordan Lees, a lived experience expert and research volunteer who has worked with the National Institute for Health and Care Research Mental Health Translational Research Collaboration. They discuss the importance of public and patient involvement in mental health research and the crucial role lived experience plays in shaping meaningful, impact...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Professor Kam Bhui, a leading expert in public mental health and policy at the University of Oxford. They explore how structural inequalities impact mental health care, particularly for marginalised groups, and discuss the role of adverse childhood experiences in shaping long-term mental health outcomes. The conversation also delves into the inte...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Professor Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, a psychologist and neuroscientist from the University of Cambridge. They discuss the key neurological changes that occur during adolescence and why the teenage brain is distinct from both children's and adults' brains. The conversation also addresses common misconceptions, challenging the idea of adolescence as a...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Prof Willem Kuyken, a research clinical psychologist and author from the University of Oxford. They discuss Willem’s journey into mental health research and why he focuses specifically on mindfulness and its benefits for mental health. The conversation explores key findings from his studies on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT), and the i...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor interviews Dr Maria Loades, a clinical psychologist and mental health researcher from the University of Bath. They discuss Dr Loades’ journey into mental health research and why she focuses specifically on depression and anxiety in young people. The conversation explores key findings from her studies on isolation, loneliness, and the impact of the pandemic...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor speaks to Professor Nav Kapur, a leading researcher in suicide prevention and self-harm, and a professor of psychiatry and population health at the University of Manchester. Nav's work has shaped policy and clinical practice across the UK and beyond, making him one of the foremost voices in understanding the complexities of suicide and self-harm. In this ep...

This 5th of July marks the third Research Appreciation Day. A day started by us at MQ to celebrate the hard work of health researchers from all disciplines. For this special episode of Open Mind, and since this year’s theme is ‘Careers in Research’, here are our esteemed guests explaining how they got their start in research. Open Mind will return in the following weeks, and we hope to see you aga...

As we plan for next season, we want to hear your thoughts—what’s working, what could be better, and any new ideas you’d like to see. Take just 5 minutes to complete our survey and share your feedback! We’re also looking for volunteers to join our focus group for a deeper discussion about the podcast. If you're interested, let us know—we’d love to have you involved! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to psychiatrist, and Director of the Division of Digital Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr John Torous. John is active in investigating the potential of using mobile mental health technologies for psychiatry, using his expertise to support mindapps.org in building the largest database of mental health apps. As a leader i...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to author, trainer, UKCP-registered psychotherapist, and Professor of Psychology at the University of Roehampton, Professor Mick Cooper. Mick is an internationally recognised authority in the field of counselling and psychotherapy and a chartered psychologist. He is also a prolific writer, and has written about a range of subjects such as hu...

Content Warning: This episode of MQ Open Mind has discussions about suicide, self-harm and sexual violence. In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to the Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Centre to End All Sexual Exploitation, Gemma Kelly. CEASE is a UK-based charity working to expose and dismantle the cultural and commercial drivers behind all forms of sexual exploitation in...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Professor of Health Psychology at Northumbria University and author, Professor Vincent Deary. In 2014, Vincent released his first book, “How We Are”, the first in the “How We” trilogy, where he brings together his clinical and academic interests, along with his interest in philosophy, literature and popular culture, to paint a portrait of...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to the Research Programme Lead at MQ Mental Health Research, Mariana Bolivar, and Research Associate and PhD student at the University of Oxford, Thomas Hakman. As the lines between the offline and online worlds blur, the impact of internet use on young people's mental health has become a critical concern. With an overwhelming amount of info...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Oxford, Dr Paul Harrison, and NIHR Clinical Lecturer also in the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford, Dr Maxime Taquet.  Max and Paul are a part of the MQ-funded PHOSP-COVID study, which is a consortium of scientists from across the UK, researching long-term health outcomes for patients hospital...

Thank you so much for watching the first half of season 3. We hope you were able to gain further insight into the world of mental health research whilst understanding more about yourself and those around you. For this special episode of Open Mind, here are the important questions that our guests would love to be answered by mental health research. Open Mind will return in the autumn, and we hope t...

In this episode, we speak to Prudence Trust Research Fellow at King's College London, Dr Josefien Breedvelt. Josefien’s research mainly focuses on preventing depression and anxiety. Her research on the effect of psychological interventions for relapse prevention for depression has directly informed the Dutch Multidisciplinary Clinical Guidelines for Depression. In this conversation, we discuss pre...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to journalist, political strategist and podcaster, Alastair Campbell. Alastair is best known for his role as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s spokesman, press secretary and director of communications and strategy. Although he is still very much involved in politics, evidenced by his top-rated podcast, ‘The Rest is Politics’, Alasta...

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Glasgow, Professor Helen Minnis. Helen’s research mainly focuses on young people’s mental health, such as examining the relationship between child maltreatment, neurodevelopment and mental illness across the lifespan. In this conversation, they discussed the impact of servi...