67: How can we work in ways that Safeguard our Mental Health and Overall Wellbeing? With Leah Francis PowerUp!

“There is a mental health crisis in the Arts, a workforce at its lowest ever point psychologically, and a lack of support available for those who need it most”. Wellbeing in the Arts.
 
How can we work in ways that safeguard our mental health and overall wellbeing? We’re joined by Leah Francis who shares how overworking, and a lack of knowledge around safeguarding within the Arts led her to a breakdown. Since then integrating access needs are a central part of her working practice. Press play and join our conversation.
 
Leah Francis is a theatre maker performer/divisor from Leeds with experience in directing, facilitating, performing, and writing. Her passion lies in creating theatre involving song, movement and spoken word that seeks to empower the community. Leah also has a desire for telling diverse women's stories and in 2013 set up her own Theatre Collective, Speak Woman Speak who performed internationally at Fira B Festival in Mallorca. More recently Leah has completed her MA in performance at Leeds Beckett University with a distinction and has been encouraged to carry on studying and researching for a PhD.
 
Mentions:
Wellbeing in the Arts: https://www.wellbeinginthearts.org.uk
Speak Woman Speak: www.speakwomanspeak.com
Soledad and Betto Douglas
White Walls
Lateisha Davine Lovelace-Hanson: https://www.instagram.com/lateisha_davine/?hl=en
Yayoi Kusama: http://yayoi-kusama.jp/e/information/
Audre Lorde: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/audre-lorde
Bell Hooks: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_hooks
Trisha Hearsey Nap Ministry: https://thenapministry.com/
Bertolt Brecht: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/bertolt-brecht
Bechdel Test: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bechdel_test
 
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Music by Tomo Carter IG: @tomocarter
 
Everything else brought to you by us, the PowerUp! power team
 
If you are or have been affected by any of the topics we've discussed in this episode here are some organisations you may find helpful:
 
https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com/
www.mind.org.uk 
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/guides-to-support-and-services/abuse/#DomesticAbuseAndViolenceSupportOptions
https://www.wellbeinginthearts.org.uk