Leading businessman Sir Ian Cheshire says the pandemic has completely changed the background to talking about mental health at work. He became interested in the issues because of family experiences and has since worked with charities to promote good practices in the office. The fact that so many of us are working from home poses […]
Exercise
Managing my eating disorder in uncertain times
Emily Nagioff As we veer between possible lockdown scenarios and the overwhelming realisation that this ‘new’ normal is actually going to be our normal for a while, it’s easy to feel anxious. Not even just anxious though, panicking and desperate to exercise control over anything we can in light of a pandemic we can’t control. […]
Comedy: a way of surviving the darkness, Juliette Burton
Since her teens, comedian Juliette Burton has been diagnosed with a series of mental health disorders, from eating disorders to anxiety. Juliette says comedy is a way to survive the darkness and making light of her illnesses really helps her. Having to go on stage in front of an audience reduces tension and allows her […]
Creating a driving manual for our bodies, Aaron Alexander
Aaron Alexander, founder of The Align Method, relied on bodybuilding when he was a teenager, while experiencing insecurity and instability in his home life. But then he moved to Hawaii and the change in environment had a massive impact on how he wanted to live his life. He created The Align Method to build a […]
Family is the one constant, Jamie Jewitt
We spoke to Love Island star Jamie Jewitt a couple of years ago. Then, he spoke about his disillusion with how his modelling career had panned out and how unhappy he had been over social media and the pressure to present a perfect image. Now, he and partner Camilla are expecting a baby and he […]
The sun returns every morning, Nana-Ama Danquah
Writer Nana-Ama Danquah always felt that she was different, but it wasn’t until her twenties that a friend of her suggested she might have depression. “I didn’t know the physical aspects of depression existed: the exhaustion, the mind fog, feeling congealed to the sheets.” She wrote about her experience in her memoir Willow Weep for […]
The electricity of the mind, Dr Rahul Jandial
In his book, ‘Life Lessons from a Brain Surgeon’, Dr Rahul Jandial uses what he has seen from years of operating on brains in trauma to tell the rest of us how best to keep our brains healthy. While the brain is an extremely complex and fascinating organ, there are simple things we can do […]
Taking time to deal with trauma, Shanie Ryan
Presenter and podcast host Shanie Ryan is a survivor of the 7/7 London bombings. Her experiences led to PTSD, anxiety and depression, but it took her a while to realise the changes in her behaviour were a result of that day. “I couldn’t relax, my behaviour was frantic, I always needed to be in control. […]
Avoiding the lockdown blues
Simon and Ayshen Webbe tell Head Talks how they are coping in isolation. Simon, a singer-songwriter who found fame with the group Blue, has told us before of his struggles with depression. For the couple, a routine is absolutely essential, and they’re giving thanks for time spent at home.
Spare room workouts
Author and consultant Mark Simmonds finds that making time for exercise is vital for his mental health. Using his spare room during the lockdown, he has set up a routine that involves a cupboard, a wall and the floor – no need for YouTube videos or expensive equipment! He has turned his spare […]
Doing more than I thought I could, Michael Chakraverty
The Great British Bake Off star came to national prominence when he experienced a panic attack on television after his choux pastry went wrong. Michael had been learning in therapy that he should try new things; during the show, he found his brain telling him ‘you aren’t as good as you thought you were.’ Michael […]
In hard times you can achieve great things, Jada Sezer
Jada Sezer found career success at a difficult time for her family, but learned to thrive in a challenging industry as a plus-size model. Since then she has run the London Marathon in her underwear and taken on a swimming challenge. She aims to inspire other women to be proud of their bodies. Social media, […]
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