MQ Open Mind

Professor Louise Arseneault & Collaboration in Research

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to professor of developmental psychology at Kings College London, Louise Arseneault.  

Louise’s research focuses on the study of harmful behaviours such as violence and substance dependence, their developmental origins, their inter-connections with mental health, and their consequences for victims.

In this conversation, they discussed the importance of cross-collaboration, utilising health data, and how childhood bullying can affect you later on in life.

What Do We Want Research to Answer

On the 5th of July, MQ launched the very first Research Appreciation Day. A day to celebrate the hard work of health researchers from all disciplines.

For this special episode of Open Mind, and in honour of Research Appreciation Day, here are the questions that our guests would love to be answered by mental health research.

Open Mind will return in the autumn, and we hope to see you again for more lived experience stories and more mental health research.

Jenny Okolo & Empathy in the Criminal Justice Sector

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to Occupational Therapist, Jenny Okolo.

Jenny is a highly experienced lead psychiatric occupational therapist and a respected mental health advocate. She has a strong background in the criminal justice sector. Her main expertise lies in promoting workplace wellbeing, supporting mental health, and advocating for neurodiversity.

Jenny is also enthusiastic about productivity and utilizes her career platform, SASA, to provide accessible resources and inspire personal development.

In this conversation, they discussed empathy in the criminal justice sector, understanding neurodiversity, and ensuring well-being in the workplace.

Explaining our Gone Too Soon Roadmap

In this episode, we spoke to Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester, Tony Pisani, Head of Development at MQ, Emily Wheeler, and founder of Into The Light and suicide researcher, Benny Prawira, to discuss MQ’s latest paper, Gone Too Soon.

The Gone Too Soon paper is a roadmap written by 40 global experts, mixing mental health researchers, clinicians, policy experts and people with lived and living experience of mental illnesses and suicide. Together these 40 global experts have outlined 18 evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, business leaders and health workers the world over.

In this conversation, we discuss why the paper was created, the desired outcomes, and why these recommendations are so important.

Dean Stott (DLC Anxiety) & Thriving with Anxiety

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to mental health activist and author, Dean Stott.

After managing with an anxiety disorder for several years, Dean had the idea to start DLC Anxiety, an online community support group for people coping with anxiety. Since its inception in 2020, DLC Anxiety has amassed over 1.2 million members, providing helpful tips and advice from anxiety experts.

In this conversation, they discussed supporting people with anxiety, the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder, and the benefits of using social media for your mental health.

Dr Lucy Foulkes & the Truth About Mental Illness

In this episode, Professor Rory O'Connor and Craig spoke to academic psychologist and author, Dr Lucy Foulkes.

Lucy is currently a Prudence Trust Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, investigating how school-based mental health interventions may be causing adolescents harm.

In this conversation, they discussed supporting young people with their mental health, the importance of finding the appropriate treatment for your needs, and her book “What Mental Illness Really Is... (and what it isn’t)”.

You can buy Lucy's book here:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/452335/what-mental-illness-really-is-and-what-it-isnt-by-lucy-foulkes/9781529113372

Here are two of the research papers they discussed:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0732118X2300003X

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-bulletin/article/do-no-harm-can-school-mental-health-interventions-cause-iatrogenic-harm/9F00E6568F642ECFA559815915F77B8C

Visit our website to learn more about mental health research www.MQMentalHealth.org 

James Gwinnett & Building Mental Resilience

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to endurance athlete and motivational speaker, James Gwinnett.

After a bad neck injury playing rugby, James developed depression due to his inactivity, which eventually included alcoholism.

Four years later, he found redemption in the form of fitness challenges, starting from running the London Marathon to taking part in Channel 4’s Special Forces training show SAS: Who Dares Wins.

In this conversation, they discussed recovering from addiction, using sport to improve your mental health, and building mental resilience.

Dr Ben Alderson-Day and the Feeling That Someone Is Behind You

In this episode, Professor Rory O’Connor and Craig spoke to associate professor in psychology at Durham University, Dr Ben Alderson-Day.

Ben’s research is broadly focused on mental health and neurodiversity. His current research is about “felt presence”, the sensation that someone is present without any sensory cues.

In this conversation, they discussed presence, the research behind hallucinations, and the fourth man phenomenon.

Dr Anne Duffy & Protecting Student Mental Health

In this episode, we spoke to Professor of Psychiatry at Queen’s University Kingston, and Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, Dr Anne Duffy.

Anne has an extensive research background in understanding the development and early intervention of mental illness in young people. Her current research is focused on developing an international collaborative network of student mental health research called U-Flourish.

In this conversation, they discussed understanding bipolar disorder, supporting students' mental health, and whether mental illnesses can be genetic.

Tommy Lowther and Living With PTSD

In this episode, Professor Rory and Craig spoke to Armed Forces veteran and CEO of Sporting Force, Tommy Lowther.  

Tommy served with the British Army and subsequently with the Metropolitan Police. During both careers, he experienced several traumatic events, causing him to be diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

In this conversation, they discussed the impact of trauma on mental health, using sports for rehabilitation, and understanding the importance of seeking help. 

You can learn more about Sporting Force here https://www.sportingforce.org/.

If you have been affected by any of the themes we have spoken about in today's episode, you can reach out to Help for Heroes (www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-help) or Rape Crisis (www.rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help). Details for both are in the show notes. You can also speak to the Samaritans (www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan) anytime by calling 116-123.