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My favourite UK mental health speakers

My favourite UK mental health speakers

I know that there are probably another twenty rock solid mental health speakers who could be on this list, but I’ve only included people whom I’ve actually listened to at events near me. People who I’ve personally witnessed, as I wanted to make sure that everyone was top notch… which they are by the way!

Feel free to leave a comment below with some further recommendations in your area of course, as I’m always on the lookout for mental health advocates to connect with. I know that a lot of workplaces in particular want to chat about wellbeing, so definitely leave some links in the comments for me to check out!

 

Jo Love

 

Since I met Jo a few years ago I’ve felt so lucky to have her in my life. I watched her speak at a private event for influencers who talk about mental health and then saw her host a birthday party for her business where she talked on a panel of women who all really know their stuff. She’s one of the most humble and intelligent mental health speakers on Instagram, and always makes time to talk directly to everyone she meets at events. She talks mostly about PND and depression but is always open to talking about the benefits of therapy too. She even did me the honour of hosting my book launch event which was the ultimate compliment.

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{AD} I love that I am constitutionally incapable of looking serious in a photo. Anyway, this is how excited I am to partner with @warehouseuk on their I DEFINE ME campaign, where we’re celebrating women and their defining stories for International Women’s Day. I’ll be speaking at their panel discussion on the 8th March @allbright with @stylemesunday @iamlaurenmahon @miss_esme_young and @amaliah_com. Click the link in my bio to get tickets to the event and find out more about this amazing campaign. You can also purchase the I DEFINE ME tee on their site. 100% of sales from the event and tees go to @rosaforwomen , the only UK-wide fund for women and girls. #warehouse4rosa pics by the lovely @trishaward

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Bryony Gordon

 

I’ve seen Bryony talk once and I find her a pleasure to listen to. Even with the jaw-dropping success, she’s had with her many, many books she still manages to be completely honest when she’s not feeling 100%. I think that’s all you can ask for in a mental health speaker. I find raw, candid speakers the most relatable people to watch.

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Let’s gooo!

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Jessica Jones

 

Also known as The Fat Funny One, you can always rely on Jess to maintain a healthy balance of good humour and self-reflection when she speaks about mental health and wellbeing. I feel like I know her so well from her Instagram stories, and I am constantly inspired by her quest to make women of all shapes and sizes feel body confident. She regularly runs events centred around self-love and confidence.

 

Mary Meadows

 

Life coach, NLP practitioner and writer – this woman is everything rolled into one! I used to be sceptical of the term ‘life coach’ until I saw Mary (badass) Meadows speak. She’s one of those people who can instantly spot your vulnerabilities and use them to make you stronger. One of those people who can look deep into your soul and figure you out in a second. Her tagline ‘everyone needs a Mary Meadows’ sums it up perfectly!

 

 

Chris Young

 

I interviewed Chris in the past for an article I wrote about dissociative identity disorder, something which he explores in more detail in his book Walk A Mile: Tales of a Wandering Loon. I asked him to speak at a mental health event I was hosting and found myself chuckling away for almost forty minutes as he recalled the highs and lows of walking around Scotland talking to strangers about mental illness. A great, inspiring character to liven up any event.

 

Jana Dowling

 

Creator of My Arkeo, a mental health fitness tracker app, Jana knows first-hand what its like to live with mental illness. She brought herself back from the brink of suicide by taking a methodical approach to her recovery in the form of mood tracking. That’s what formed the basis of the app, and she now speaks openly to others and trains them how to find tools to manage their own mental health with a systematic approach that really works. Jana is also a seasoned stand-up comedian so you can always rely on her to brighten up the room with a few jokes.

 

Kirsty Hulse

 

Confidence coach, author and business owner Kirsty has experienced burnout whilst running a company from her bedroom. She learned the hard way that success doesn’t always need to be linked to your bank balance, and has now made it her mission to help other people find confidence at work. Her book The Future is Freelance is an entertaining look at the realities of working for yourself

 

 

Fiona Thomas

 

Oh come on, you know I couldn’t make this list without sneaking my own name in at the end! My speciality is speaking about the power of social media for people who feel isolated by mental illness. I truly believe that it can be a force for good, can help build communities, be a tool for those with social anxiety and ultimately act as a lifeline for those who are struggling to connect in real life. My book Depression in a Digital Age is my own personal journey, one which I know is mirrored by young people across the globe.

 

Want to book me? Email me fiona@fionalikestoblog.com to request more details.

10 reasons why it’s great to live Birmingham

10 reasons why it’s great to live Birmingham

This week in the Gratitude Challenge it’s time to talk about the city I live in. I have to admit this made me a tad teary when I realised I had to talk about Birmingham instead of Glasgow (I moved here in July 2016) but then I remembered I have so much to be grateful for!

1. Blogging community

In Glasgow I wasn’t talking blogging seriously. There may be a blogging community back home that I just wasn’t aware of, but I’m pretty sure it’s nothing compared to what I’ve experienced down here. When I took to Twitter I found a Brum Bloggers Facebook Group, a regular Social Media Cafe Event and a weekly Brum Hour that lets local businesses meet up online.

2. Restaurants galore

I’ve not tried out nearly as many restaurants as I would like, but I’ve made a good attempt. Sunday lunch in The Fighting Cocks in Moseley is one of the best ways to see out the weekend, and I recently had some great grub in Cherry Reds. Other places I’ve enjoyed visiting include The Stable and The Cosy Club.

3. Change is good

I knew when I left Glasgow that I was so ready for a change. Although I’ve city-hopped I still feel like there’s been a substantial change in my mindset. There’s something freeing about feeling lost in the crowd of a brand new city, where no one knows you and you can be whoever you want to be. This has really shown in my newfound body acceptance and change in hair colour!

birmingham blogger

4. Career goals

I was lucky enough to find a part-time job within the first few weeks of arriving in Brum, after an initial panic of thinking no one would hire me! Although I’m more focused on improving my blogging income I’ve also had an interview for a writing job that I would never have been able to commute to if I’d lived in Scotland. There are just so many more opportunities for people with big career goals.

5. Friendly people

My social anxiety was a big concern when I moved so far away from home. I was under so much stress after recently losing my job as well as relocating our entire life in 30 days that I was sure my anxiety was going to be particularly bad. However after meeting some lovely bloggers (Bryoney, Erica, Claire, Emma, Elizabeth and Sinead) I felt so welcomed and at home.

6. The shopping is good

When I first visited the Bullring I couldn’t believe how many brands were on offer. Even six months later, I still get lost and have to visit the information point for help. I always forget where I am and have to stop for emergency coffee breaks; luckily there’s no shortage of chain and independent cafes in Brum!

7. Christmas Markets

The German Markets that set up shop in Birmingham every Christmas attract millions of visitor, which I thought would be pretty terrifying to witness. We ended up joining the crowds every weekend in December and even took a brave turn on the big wheel. The atmosphere was certainly exciting, and it gave the already busy city even more to offer tourists.

8. It’s full of creative people

Blogging has led me to lots of like-minded people in Birmingham. I’ve met lots of people who are successfully pursuing their passions in the creative industries and just as many who are happy to do it in evenings and weekends as a hobby. One of the best things is that I’ve found a local WordPress trainer who has helped me polish up my tech skills in order for me to redesign my blog.

best things about birmingham

9. Canals

People are always telling me that Birmingham as more canals than Venice. While admittedly it doesn’t have quite the same amount of sunshine, it definitely has its fair share of canals. I’m lucky enough to live just a minute away from Brindley Place where I can walk along the short canal walk to the Mailbox. It’s a great scenic trot into town!

10. Close to London

Although we haven’t ventured to London yet, it’s kind of exciting to know we’re just an hour or so away from the capital city. I wouldn’t normally be able to attend blogging events or training days in London, but now that scenario is totally do-able; an enticing thought as I broaden my horizon and explore more creative ventures.

What’s your favourite thing about the city you live in?