In this episode, 4 of our YES Champions talk about what they whish they'd known about mental health when they were younger. The conversation includes people wishing they had accessible and reputable mental health information, awareness of coping skills, the importance of looking after your mental health and how to help seek, that there is more to life than academia, that it's ok to fail, the importance of being honest about the state of our mental health, and that its never too late to change and re-set goals.**Please note that this episode contains brief references to self injury and suicidal ..read more

In this episode, 3 of our YES Champions talk about their experiences of being bullied at school and the impact this had on their mental health. Loss of confidence, eroded self esteem, and becoming isolated and withdrawn are common themes. None of the Champions were bullied for their mental ill-health, rather for the way they looked, their sexuality, or their academic success. All of the Champions agree that experiencing bullying had a negative impact on their mental health, either making their existing mental health conditions worse, or causing poor mental health. --- Send in a voice message ..read more

In this episode, 4 of our YES Champions talk about the societal expectations regarding relationships, parenthood, home ownership, education and employment status in relation to their mental ill-health. Our perspectives include whether or not we think our mental ill-health limits what we can achieve, why we think it's sometimes in our best interests not to meet societal expectations, and busting myths through talking about some of the things we have achieved. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yorkendingstigma/message ..read more

In this episode, 3 of our YES Champions talk about their experiences of mental health and isolation as a university student. Experiences include distance learning, commuting to university, and the more traditional halls of residence experience. As might be expected, social anxiety is a common theme. However, experiences of eating disorders, and of mania, whilst being a student are spoken about during this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yorkendingstigma/message ..read more

Listen to 3 of our YES Champions talking honestly and openly about their experiences of psychosis in this informative episode. Subjects discussed include what it is like to experience psychosis, busting some sweeping stereotypes about violence and psychosis, and of course the stigmas that our Champions have faced for experiencing psychosis. Please be aware that this episode does make a brief reference, but no details, about surviving a suicide attempt. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yorkendingstigma/message ..read more

In this episode, we hear from 3 Champions who have experiences which include currently being a university student whilst experiencing mental ill-health, a Champion who didn't go to university but is a father of a university student, and from a Champion who left university due to mental ill-health but is currently studying through the open university. The pressures to go to Uni include family, school, societal, and self pressures, as well as some Champions feeling that assumed expectations meant that alternatives to university life were never discussed. We talk about whether mental ill-health s ..read more

Listen to three of our YES Champions talk about some of the myths of receiving benefits due to mental ill-health. Myths that our Champions have faced include being called 'work shy', 'lazy', and being told that receiving mental health benefit payments are 'an easy lifestyle choice'. Experiences include someone currently receiving benefits, someone who received them for years, but has since been in employment for over 14 years, and someone who's been on and off benefits until securing their current permeant employment nearly 2 years ago. There are lots of myths and misunderstandings and this ep ..read more

In this episode, 3 of our YES Champions talk about the mostly positive benefits on their mental health of being a pet owner, as well as the myth and stigma that some people think that people who are mentally unwell aren't capable of looking after a pet. As always, our Champions are open and honest, with two people saying that their pets are in their crisis plans, and are credited as being life saving. Lots of nuances around the topic are discussed and even though we are of course talking about mental illness, there are lots of laughs in this episode and we hope you enjoy listening to it as muc ..read more

In this episode, five YES Champions talk about their experiences of volunteering and the, mostly positive, impact on their mental health. We discuss the importance of a 'good' volunteering experience, and try to bust some of the myths around unemployment and volunteering. Please note that this episode contains a brief reference to both a family death and a brief reference to suicidal crisis, leading to positive volunteering experiences for one Champion. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yorkendingstigma/message ..read more

Grief is unique and complex for each of us. In this episode we talk about loss of parents, grandparents, and friends, including the loss of a friend due to suicide, and the relationship of grief with our mental health. Naturally, this episode talks a lot about death and as always please consider what's best for your own mental health before, during, and after listening to this episode. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yorkendingstigma/message ..read more