Lively Minds, the UK Mental Health Podcast

Ellie Page & Will Sadler
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Mental Health
  • Updated Monthly

Lively Minds is a monthly podcast about mental health challenges that go beyond the ebb and flow of the everyday. Led by people with lived experience, the show looks at how developing an understanding of our mental health influences how we address the challenges we face. Episodes are released on the first Friday of each month. Find out more at www.anyamedia.net/livelyminds

  1. 6d ago

    S3E21 - Learning Disability and Mental Health, with Paul Wilshaw (Re-Run)

    Hello everyone, it’s Will here. We are still in the process of resuming normal service, but we’re aware that today is the first Friday of the month so we’d ordinarily be releasing a new episode. We are really pleased we managed to get out 2 new episodes over the past couple of months; this month we are taking another dive into our archives and re-playing a conversation that Ellie and I had with Paul Wilshaw to talk about learning disability and mental health. Paul is a learning disabled artist, producer and advocate who works for Mind the Gap Theatre Company and we found our discussion, which covered the confusion between learning disability and mental health, and how the two interact really fascinating. Hope you enjoy the programme. Why is mental health and learning disability so often confused? How do they interact? Why are learning disabled people more likely to experience mental health problems than the general population? In this episode, we will be talking to Paul Wilshaw, who is Associate Producer at Mind the Gap Theatre Company. As well as being an advocate for Mind the Gap, Paul uses his own lived experience to be an advocate for learning disabled people. Paul is also presenter of Mind the Gap and Disability Arts Online’s podcast, Disability And… Again, we make quite a few references to websites and research in this show. Here are the links! The connections between mental health and learning disability according to Mencap and Mind.Some research suggests that learning disabled people are more than twice as likely to experience a mental health problem than the population at large: see results on Consensus.appDisabled people are more at risk of loneliness than non-learning disabled people: ses results on Consensus.appFollow @livelymindspod on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and more at https://www.bio.link/livelyminds Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find our more about the show and get signposting to support on our website anyamedia.net/livelyminds

    25 min

  2. May 24

    S3E20 - Will discusses how he is processing his sudden cancer diagnosis

    In late November 2025, Will was told that what was thought to be a lingering infection was in fact advanced testicular cancer. Within about 36 hours of being rediagnosed he had been admitted to hospital and was starting an intensive 12-week BEP chemotherapy regimen. Will describes shock, dream-like dissociation, fear of death, and the balance between trying to feel positive, hopeful and grateful for the support he was receiving on the one hand, with space to feel gloom, hopelessness and fear on the other. Will and Ellie discuss uncertainty, loss of agency in healthcare, the pros and cons of researching your condition and treatment, upcoming RPLND open surgery, lack of in-house NHS mental health support, communication problems with appointments, and how returning to everyday life can feel disorientating. Lively Minds is still following an irregular schedule but we hope to get back to our monthly show soon. UK cancer charities mentioned in this conversation include: Maggies - https://www.maggies.org/ MacMillian - https://www.macmillan.org.uk/ Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds  00:00 Welcome Back Intro 00:52 Cancer Diagnosis Shock 05:45 Dreamlike Hospital Week 06:47 Facing Mortality Numbers 08:58 Coping Mindsets Shift 13:15 Agency And Research 19:09 Information Staging Debate 22:36 NHS Pride And Problems 26:56 Mental Health Support Gap 31:40 Communication Breakdown 35:00 Surgery Fears And Trauma 40:01 Returning Temporarily To Normal Life 42:22 Closing And Resources

    44 min

  3. Apr 3

    S3E19 - Random Acts of Crochet Kindness, with Olivia Dieterich

    Hosts Will and Ellie interview therapist and crocheter Olivia Dieterich about her book Random Acts of Crochet Kindness and the global movement she founded. After losing a friend, Natalie, to suicide, Olivia used crochet to cope with grief and set a 100-day challenge to crochet a flower each day and leave it for strangers with a note inviting them to take it home, sparking the hashtag. During lockdown, a found item was shared on a local Facebook group, leading to BBC coverage and the creation of a UK-based Facebook community now exceeding 350,000 members worldwide. Olivia discusses crochet’s grounding benefits, building self-esteem and purpose, supporting urges like self-harm, and creating “glimmers” of joy for others. The book offers beginner-friendly patterns, tags, guidance, and stories, and Olivia hopes to create a children’s version and more in-person meetups. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds  00:00 Welcome to Lively Minds 01:07 How Crochet Kindness Began 02:23 Crochet as Therapy 05:09 Why Giving Helps You 06:28 Going Viral in Lockdown 08:10 A Global Kindness Community 09:59 Small Joys and Glimmers 0:53 Inside the New Book 13:23 Mental Health Lessons 15:14 Community and Connection 16:39 Letting Go of Projects 18:24 Whats Next and Wrap Up

    21 min

  4. Mar 11

    S3E18 - Update + Illustrating Bipolar, with Matt Ottley (Re-Run)

    Hello everyone, it’s Will here. As you know, Ellie and I have had to take a break from the podcast due to some ongoing health issues. We are still hoping to bring you new episodes in late Spring or Summer 2026 but in the meantime, we thought we’d go back through our archives and bring you some of our favourite episodes from the 3 years we’ve been doing the show. And so, here is an episode from May 2024. Matt Ottley is a multi-award winning graphic novelist and composer, who was Australia’s nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen award. Matt joined us for a conversation about how he interprets his experiences of bipolar and psychosis through art, words and music. We focus on his book: The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness which had just been released at the time and you can find links to more information about, in the show notes. Just a heads up that there is a brief reference to a suicide attempt in the episode, but we don’t go into any detail. I hope you enjoy the show, and please do remember it would really help us out if you could rate or review us via your podcast app. You can find out more about The Tree of Ecstasy and Unbearable Sadness by following these links Matt Ottley’s website Publisher: One Tentacle’s website Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find our more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com

    31 min

  5. 12/14/2025 ·  Bonus

    See you in 2026!

    Hello everyone, it’s Ellie here. Thank you so much to all of you for following our podcast over the last few years. It has meant the world to us, and we’ve loved every part of the podcasting process so far. Unfortunately, due to various health issues, we are going to take a slightly-longer-than-planned break from recording new Lively Minds episodes. We hope to return to your ears for a new season sometime in 2026. Thank you again to everyone who has listened, subscribed, downloaded and donated to us so far - we are looking forward to picking things up again with you when we can.  In the meantime, Will and I both wish you all a safe and warm winter, and we look forward to reconnecting with you when we are able to.  Bye for now!

    1 min

  6. 11/07/2025

    S3E17 - Putting a patient-centred approach into practice, with Dr Alex Curmi

    What is a 'patient-centred approach'? What systemic challenges get in the way of making it a reality?What does the biopsychosocial model tell us about how to choose the best pathways for treatment? Alex Curmi, a consultant psychiatrist and trainee psychotherapist from The Thinking Mind Podcast discusses how he helps clients determine the best treatment plans based on a multitude of factors. He elaborates on his diverse experiences across various mental health settings and the importance of recognising biological, psychological, and social inputs in mental health. He also touches on the challenges and methodologies involved in acute and planned mental health interventions, patient-centred care, and the role of systemic integration in improving outcomes. The conversation highlights the need for a holistic, collaborative, and anti-tribalistic approach in mental health practice. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds  00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:16 Guest Introduction: Dr. Alex Curmi 00:44 Diverse Practice Environments 02:23 Challenges in Crisis Situations 04:52 Responsibilities in Patient Care 07:39 Patient-Centered Care Approach 21:59 Existential and Nihilistic Issues 27:41 Holistic Treatment Plans 35:10 Collaboration and Integration in Mental Health 41:03 Conclusion and Farewell

    42 min

  7. 10/03/2025

    S3E16 - How do we avoid overdiagnosis whilst respecting people’s experiences? With Dr Elspeth Davies and Dr Helen Salisbury

    In this episode we are joined by Dr. Elspeth Davies, a medical anthropologist from the University of Oxford, and Dr. Helen Salisbury, a GP and BMJ columnist, about their BMJ article: How do we talk about overdiagnosis of mental health conditions without dismissing people’s suffering? Our discussion explores the fine line between validating patients' experiences and the potential harms of unnecessary diagnostic labels. We examine the influence of medicalisation, the role of diagnoses in accessing care and benefits, and the broad societal implications. The conversation also highlights the need for improved communication between doctors and patients and the importance of considering alternative approaches to understanding mental health issues. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds  00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast 00:20 Introducing the Topic of Over-Diagnosis 00:27 Meet the Experts: Dr. Elspeth Davies and Dr. Helen Salisbury 01:28 Defining Over-Diagnosis in Mental Health 02:24 The Complexity of Diagnosing Mental Health Conditions 04:39 The Role of Diagnoses in Accessing Support 07:36 The Impact of Diagnoses on Patients 09:48 The Debate on Over-Diagnosis and Medicalization 25:52 The Influence of Pharmaceutical Companies 26:26 Improving Conversations Between Doctors and Patients 29:11 The Political Context of Over-Diagnosis 31:03 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

    32 min

  8. 09/05/2025

    S3E15 - School and Mental Health, with Caro Giles

    In this episode we are joined by author: Caro Giles to talk about school and mental health. Caro has worked as a teacher across the education sector. She is winner of the inaugural BBC Countryfile New Writer Award, author of Twelve Moons, published by Harper North and writes a regular monthly column for Psychologies Magazine.  Her latest book - Unschooled - published by Little Toller Books, is a memoir about her life as a single mother who was forced to educate her four daughters at home due to our underfunded school system being unable to cater for young people with special educational needs. In this episode we are going to discuss how conducive our current school system is for children’s positive mental health, the challenges that it can present for children with additional needs and what needs to change in order for school to become a place that supports everyone’s wellbeing. UNSCHOOLED is available in all good bookstores. Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find out more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com Follow @livelymindspod on social media, or see our links at  https://www.bio.link/livelyminds

    29 min
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Lively Minds is a monthly podcast about mental health challenges that go beyond the ebb and flow of the everyday. Led by people with lived experience, the show looks at how developing an understanding of our mental health influences how we address the challenges we face. Episodes are released on the first Friday of each month. Find out more at www.anyamedia.net/livelyminds

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