#LetsTalkMentalHealthII series highlights youth voice in mental health
Mental health increasingly intersects with careers in fields such as museums, technology, architecture, genetics and music. But how can young professionals working in these emerging disciplines get to grips with the challenges of living with mental health conditions?
#LetsTalkMentalHealthII is bringing together individuals with lived experiences of mental health problems with young professionals working in diverse fields. The project aims to promote discussion, reduce stigma and increase knowledge of mental health, through a series of short films.
The ESRC-funded series builds on the success of the first #LetsTalkMentalHealth series from 2018, and is led by Professor Louise Arseneault, ESRC Mental Health Leadership Fellow, and Project Coordinator Ali Hussain, both at the IoPPN.
The films are being released around Mental Health Awareness Week, and feature discussions between young professionals in emerging disciplines in mental health research, and the perspectives of people with a range of mental health conditions.
Professor Arseneault says: ‘It is important for researchers and people working in mental health related fields to have contact with individuals with lived experience of mental health problems. It has been incredible to work with amazing people willing share their experience with mental health problems, and wonderful to discover new approaches and ideas for preventing and dealing with mental health problems from disciplines including architecture, genetics and technology.’
Ali Hussain says: ‘This project aims to create an atmosphere of understanding, compassion and mutual interest by bringing to light the experiences and challenges of people experiencing mental health problems. #LetsTalkMentalHealthII is a unique project, promoting mental health awareness by highlighting the perspectives of young people and giving an insight into how mental health problems affect peoples’ lives.’
Films already released include:
- Nuala Morse, Lecturer in Museum Studies at the University of Leicester, and George-David Hodgson, fashionpreneuer and mental health campaigner, speaking about the wellbeing benefits of engaging with community assets like museums. (Link)
- Sarah Doherty, Youth Lead for eNurture Mental Health Network, and Chris Nightingale, an IT Coordinator for a GP surgery, discussing how data and technology can help to improve patient care. (Link)
- Evangelia Chrysikou, Lecturer at the UCL Bartlett Real Estate Institute, and Samara Morris, a professional photographer and a mental health campaigner, discussing the impact of architecture on mental health and wellbeing (Link)
Alongside more films in the coming days, further blogs and articles are being published by MQ and the Mental Elf, aiming to reach diverse audiences and highlight the voices of young people in mental health discussions.
Follow #LetsTalkMentalHealthII on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to keep up with the latest content!
Contact
For any further media information please contact: Robin Bisson, Senior Press Officer, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, robin.bisson@kcl.ac.uk / +44 20 7848 5377.