My commute with MQ’s Open Mind

andy.walton
Aug 22, 2017 · 2 min read

As an MQ Ambassador, it was a privilege to be one of the first to listen to their first ever podcast series. After receiving their email, I downloaded the podcast all set for my three hour long commute to an outreach appointment the next day.

As part of my role as a mental health outreach nurse in the North of England, I can sometimes have long journeys to appointments with Radio 5 Live and podcasts proving valuable travel companions. So I was pleased to hear from MQ, the leading mental health research charity, about their brand new Open Mind podcast series.

MQ’s Open Mind looks at the science behind mental health and its potential to transform lives featuring direct conversations between scientists looking into mental health research and people whose lives have been affected by mental health problems.

I loved the interaction between mental health advocate with lived experience and the researcher. A stimulating and inspiring listen through a relaxed conversational style, they highlight cutting-edge science which could transform the lives of those struggling with their mental health.

For me, it demonstrated that the research projects MQ are investing in are relevant, meaningful and that those involved fully grasp what service users what from such endeavours.

They have launched the series with three episodes to begin with covering different themes. My favourite so far is episode 3 entitled: ‘The reality of life with social anxiety and the app that could help’. The team speak to Claire Eastham, mental health blogger at We’re All Mad Here and Professor John Powell, researcher at Oxford University. Claire describes what it’s like to live with anxiety and takes the opportunity to quiz Professor John Powell, an MQ-funded researcher who’s testing an online tool to help relieve the symptoms of social anxiety.

More episodes to following including a neuroscientist who was diagnosed with depression, a firefighter’s struggle with PTSD and a researcher who’s tackling mental health in emergency workers.

link for downloads below:

MQ are the first major charity funding much-needed scientific research to transform the lives of everyone affected by mental illness. I invite you to read more about the charities ambition and the excellent work they are doing here.

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