Current track

Title

Artist


Mental Health Minute on 95.6 BRFM

Written by on 14 May 2018

95.6 BRFM are joining radio stations around the UK who are uniting for the first time to broadcast a one-minute message about mental health. The historical broadcast will go out on air simultaneously on Tuesday 15th May at 10.59 am and will feature globally famous voices talking about the stigma of mental health.

The message is to recognise Mental Health Awareness Week during the industry’s Radio Audio Week. The minute is supported by the Royal Foundation’s Heads Together campaign which launched in 2016 to change the national conversation on mental health and tackle the stigma that prevents people from getting the help they need. Heads Together brings together The Royal Foundation and eight mental health charities including the Anna Freud Centre For Children and Families, Best Beginnings, CALM, Contact, Place 2 Be, Mind, The Mix, and Young Minds.

Watch: Mental Health Minute video

 

With over 300 stations taking part, broadcasting to one of radio’s biggest collective audiences with an average listenership of 20 million, the Mental Health Minute has been led by Radio Centre and The Radio Academy. The content will be created and produced by content agency Somethin’ Else.

Siobhan Kenny, Chief Executive at Radio Centre, said: “Radio is coming together in a UK first today to shine a light on the important issue of mental health. Radio is unique in being both fantastically intimate and yet part of a shared experience. As well as providing company and fun, radio can be an important lifeline for listeners. It is therefore an obvious choice for us all to come together to talk about the things that matter most in our lives.”

Somethin’ Else Managing Director Steve Ackerman said: “Somethin’ Else is delighted to be working with Radiocentre on the creative and production of this exciting moment in radio history. We are pleased that the power of audio is being used to such fantastic effect and confident that what we’ve produced will get people talking.”

Roger Cutsforth, Chief Executive at The Radio Academy, said: “We have a responsibility to recognise the unique place we in radio occupy in people’s lives. This poignant moment of reflection, a first in UK radio, is a wonderful opportunity to help us improve how we support each other emotionally.”

Lorraine Heggessey, Chief Executive of The Royal Foundation said: “At its heart, Heads Together is about bringing people together to change the conversation on mental health. Nothing exemplifies this more than radio stations from all networks focusing their airtime on such an important topic, and talking directly with their listeners.”

This year, Mental Health Awareness Week will focus on stress.

Around 16 million people are affected by poor mental health every year and stress often plays a key role in making things feel worse. Stress can be defined as the degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable.

All sorts of situations can cause stress. Some of the most common involve work, money matters and relationships with partners, children or other family members. Stress may also be caused either by major upheavals and life events such as divorce, unemployment, moving house and bereavement, or by a series of minor irritations such as feeling undervalued at work. Sometimes there are no obvious causes. Some stress is normal but too much can be harmful.

For more details on accessing mental health support through the NHS, click here.

For more details on stress, symptoms and things that you can do to help yourself, click here.

More information about Mental Health Awareness Week 2018 can be found here.

Mental Health Minute is at 10.59 am on Tuesday 15th May