The Mental Health Scoop is a podcast that I set up through Queens Radio station. I joined Queens Radio during lockdown and became a member of the news team ‘The Sunday Scoop’. I was delighted with this opportunity as the broadcasting industry was always something that interested me. I began by preparing 5 minute segments for ‘The Sunday Scoop’ containing news and advice in relation to Mental Health but the Head of News at the station, felt that I could potentially use my knowledge of Psychology and love for the industry to make my own podcast.

I would like to call myself an advocate of mental health because I believe there is so much more that could be done to cut the stigma of the topic, normalise it in conversation and raise awareness for the many different issues - issues such as anxiety, self-esteem, suicide and so on. 

Every week is based on a different topic. I invite guests to speak on their experience of the issue along with another guest who specialises or has focused knowledge on this topic. 

In the first episode I began with the topic anxiety in student life with specific reference to Coronavirus. Alannah Hagan, my first guest discussed how isolation increased her anxiety as a student in Queens and how she managed her previous history of mental health issues. The head of welfare at Queens, Katie Ní Chléire also discussed what welfare and support services are available to students and those in need.

In the second episode we focused on more positive aspects of mental health and discussed motivation, stress-busting and optimism while learning online and working from home. One of my guests that week was Dr Chris Gibbons Lecturer (Education) in the School of Psychology at QUB who is an expert on stress.

The third episode focused on a key and important topic, Suicide Prevention. I spoke to Professor Siobhan O’Neill, the Northern Ireland Mental Health Champion who has conducted an array of research particularly in relation to suicide and depression in student, as well as a suicide survivor to discuss his experience.

The podcast is broadcast on Spotify and Apple podcasts every Friday at 10am, so is available to anyone who can use these! It was initially targeted at students, but now with a broad audience listening I try to engage and relate to a range of ages.

Hopefully you get the chance to listen, enjoy and find some advice or relevant information you can apply to yourself to improve your well-being.

You can find the Mental Health Scoop podcast on Spotify at the links below:

Episode 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6Eq7K1fyPedv1s8bPuKlCk?si=JWLiMmUhSfax6G9nh8-lgw 

Episode 2: https://open.spotify.com/episode/20j23ey42glD5fzqiGTQab?si=O7I6cO0PSKy5otAsofrdsg  

Episode 3: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ifvlHKSybSDKxikoEiTOH?si=XzhlpkImRqOw6ezp-NQJLA