Love Island Star Jack Fowler found it difficult to adjust to his newfound fame after he emerged from the Love Island villa. The sudden attention the reality TV show brought made him feel as though he was ‘in a zoo’. He has learned that showing emotion, like the heartbreak he felt after breaking up with […]
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A New Reality, Jack Fowler
Baring Body and Soul, Ben, The Naked Professor
The Naked Professor Ben uses striking naked images of himself, often in dramatic locations, as a way to draw attention to his writing on mental health. He says that in the early part of his life he was living on autopilot and felt unable to show his sensitive side. This led to anxiety, depression, feelings […]
We’re On the Same Team, Josh Smiiffy
Musician Rapper Josh Smiiffy found himself isolated as a child and severely depressed and suicidal as a teenager. He found help in writing and performing his own music. Although he still suffers, he says, from ‘more downs than ups’ he is keen to see more help for children. Josh would like more arts and sports […]
Former Olympic Gold Paralympian, Anne Usher MBE
Paralympic Champion Anne Usher was a physiotherapist and competitive cyclist until a back injury left her unable to ride, or to heal herself. She felt an inward spiral of failure and feeling she was the victim. Volunteering for the London Olympics in 2012 was “one of the best tonics” and led to a chance meeting with […]
Paralympic Surfer, Bruno Hansen
Surfing Champion “You’re paralysed and you’ll never walk again.” Those were the words Bruno Hansen heard after his spine was snapped. A broken shell of a human being, Bruno tried to drown himself before a wave hit him and, as he says, “the joy kicked in”. Bruno is now three-time ISA World Adaptive Surfing Champion. […]
French Buddhist Monk, Matthieu Ricard
Buddhist Monk Matthieu Ricard is a French writer, photographer and Buddhist monk. His life is divided between the seclusion of a hermitage in the Himalayas and the whirlwind of modern life. Matthieu says that our state of mind can override our circumstances, whether good or bad. He says that our mind can be our best […]
Former Sniper & Royal Marine, Jamie Sanderson
Former Royal Marine sniper Jamie Sanderson served in Afghanistan. He was under attack in intense, chaotic battlegrounds. Not surprisingly, defending his comrades in a place where he was expecting to get hit, hurt or killed every day took its toll on his nerves. The contrast of returning home injured was also a shock. Jamie began […]
Being Friends With the Monster, Stolar
Musician and songwriter Stolar says that from a young age, he always had heightened emotions — what he calls ‘emotional superpowers’. But by the time he was studying at NYU, those feelings were running out of control. He has been diagnosed with depression and bipolar disorder. With bipolar in the family, his relatives were able […]
We Need People Who Think Differently, Vikie Shanks
Author, Speaker & Mentor Vikie Shanks was widowed when her husband took his own life. She was left to bring up seven children, six of whom are on the autistic spectrum. Two of her children have cerebral palsy. Vikie, on her own, had no choice but to cope and to enable her children and herself […]
Explorer & Round the World Record Holder, Sarah Outen
Adventurer Sarah Outen is an adventurer by land and sea. Her recent expeditions have included an attempt to travel around the northern hemisphere solely by human power. Sarah says she’s never been fearless. Sometimes she’s found that the most dangerous part of any journey is not the physical danger she’s found herself in, but what […]
Finding the Answers Inside Yourself, Dave Lee
Ex Builder Turned Mental Health Campaigner Ten years ago, Dave Lee was working as a builder. He was depressed, drinking heavily and attempted to end his life. Recovering, he looked for answers. Eventually he realised that he could only find those insights and answers inside himself. He describes the difference between the ‘personal mind’ and […]
Former Government Mental Health Ambassador, Natasha Devon MBE
Former Government Advisor on Mental Health Natasha Devon is a former advisor to the government on child mental health. She has personal experience of anxiety and eating disorders herself. Natasha would like to see a society where children are taught how to develop healthy habits that will stand them in good stead in the future. […]