In this episode, our panel look at so-called internet gaming disorder, prompted by a recent academic study. They discuss internet gaming, the potential risks, but also the benefits that gaming can bring, both to life in general (children doing maths homework, for example) and to protecting and sustaining good mental health.

This is the second episode in our series of podcasts with the British Journal of Psychiatry. It discusses a recent research paper entitled "Internet Gaming Disorder: Investigating the Clinical Relevance of a New Phenomenon", which was published in the American Journal of Psychology and highlighted in the Kaleidoscope section of the British Journal of Psychiatry. The panel for this discussion featured:

- Josefien Breedvelt, Research Manager at the Mental Health Foundation 
- Derek Tracy, Consultant Psychiatrist at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
- Emma Wilson, mental health policy expert, well-known to some as @MindfulEm on Twitter.

Internet gaming? Good or bad for our mental health?

‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. 

What is this series about? 
From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges. 

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.  

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 5: Trauma and Adversity: trauma-informed care 

Who’s on the podcast today? 
Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter.  

Dr Karen Treisman: a clinical psychologist, trainer, and author, travelled to the USA to research international approaches to integrating adversity, culturally, and trauma-informed and responsive principles at a system-wide and organisational level.

Daniel Johnson: forensic psychologist and service manager at Kibble Education and Care Centre, a specialist provider of child and youth care services, travelled to the USA, Norway and Sweden to investigate how trauma-informed principles have been turned into tangible practice in young people’s residential care services.

What is the episode about? 
This episode features details of a number of leading trauma-informed organisations delivering services in a variety of community-based contexts abroad.

We hear about Jasper Mountain, a large care, education and treatment centre in the Oregon forest, initially opened by a husband and wife who were practising therapists frustrated by the systems in which they worked. The main residential building is a castle, with a keep, large central hall and even a drawbridge. It has been built like this as children had said this was the structure they would prefer and in which they would feel most safe. 

Need support?
	If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do. 
	C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.
	For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support.  Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.

Trauma & adversity - Trauma-informed care / Mental health in the community

‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. 

What is this series about? 
From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges. 

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.  

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 6: Growing up and growing old 

Who’s on the podcast today? 
Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter. 

Olivia Richards: teacher at St Paul’s C of E Primary School in Addlestone, Surrey and leader of The Story Project. Travelled to the USA and Canada in 2016 to explore how reading and writing can be used to teach young people social and emotional skills.

David Humphreys: a family therapist, travelled to Canada and the USA in 2016 to explore ways of improving the involvement of family members in community mental health treatment.

What is the episode about? 
This episode features discussions around how community-based approaches are being used abroad to support the mental health of both younger and older people. 

We hear about the 'The Story Project', the work of Churchill Fellow, Olivia Richards, who travelled to the US and Canada to study how reading and writing are used in schools to teach children and young people the kind of social and emotional skills that can nurture emotional literacy and offer protection from anxiety and depression in later life. 

Need support?
	If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do. 
	C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.
	For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support.  Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.

Growing up & growing old / Mental health in the community

‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. 

What is this series about? 
From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges. 

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.  

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 1: Equality and Diversity

Who’s on the podcast today? 
Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter. 

Erica Mapule Mcinnis: a chartered clinical psychologist, travelled to the USA (2016) to investigate African-centered psychological services for wellbeing.

Jacqui Jobson: former Director of Advocacy at Connected Voice and freelance consultant, travelled to Australia and Canada (2017) to explore advocacy approaches addressing mental health among LGBT+ communities.

What is the episode about? 
This episode on Equality and Diversity features Erica and Jacqui’s findings from Australia, Canada and the USA demonstrating how approaches abroad are being used to help reduce mental health inequalities and protect the rights of vulnerable groups. 

We hear about "Ascensions Psychological and Community Services" (which Erica visited in Washington DC) - a mental health service infused with black heritage. Operating from an ordinary house on an ordinary street in a predominantly black neighbourhood, it projects a pride in its African heritage that is immediately obvious to anyone entering the building.

We also hear about programmes Jacqui visited in Sydney and Toronto that ensure that everyone in the organisation, from receptionists to therapists and counsellors, were either themselves from the LGBT+ community or had been professionally trained to understand and affirm the community's cultural sensitivities and world view. 

Need support?
	If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do. 
	C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.
	For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support.  Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.

Equality & diversity / Mental health in the community

‘Mental health in the community’ is a series of six podcasts brought to you by the Mental Health Foundation and the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. 

What is this series about? 
From 2016 to 2019 the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust ran the Mental Health Fellowships programme, funding individuals to travel abroad to learn more about how community-based solutions are being created to respond to some of today’s most pressing mental health challenges. 

The Mental Health Foundation was the expert partner in this programme, helping to shape its aims, select the successful candidates and provide mentoring to the successful Fellows. In total, 59 Churchill Fellows were chosen to investigate best practice in 18 countries and bring back new evidence and ideas to create positive change in their profession, practice and communities in the UK.  

This series of podcasts distils the key findings from this rich body of learning, and makes recommendations for policy and practice in the UK. Each episode focuses on an aspect of the Mental Health Fellowships’ overarching theme ‘community-based solutions’. There are also corresponding briefings for each of the categories below, available at www.mentalhealth.org.uk or www.wcmt.org.uk.

Episode 2: Creativity and Innovation: the creative arts

Who’s on the podcast today? 
Trevor Barnes: Host, freelance journalist and BBC radio presenter. 

Dr Kat Taylor: a clinical psychologist and art and mental health innovation programme manager at Greater Manchester i-Thrive, travelled to Finland and the USA (2017) to study initiatives embedding the arts into health care.

Alison O’Connor: a psychotherapist, trainer and co-founder of Cardiff based Arts in Health organisation, Re-Live. Alison travelled to Bosnia and Herzegovina and the USA (2016) to investigate the impact of the creative arts on families and veterans affected by trauma and moral injury.

What is the episode about? 
This episode features two Fellows’ findings about how the creative arts are being used abroad to support people’s mental health.  

We hear about the Dance Centre of Central Finland in Jyvaskyla where the Baby Dance Hour is an opportunity for mothers to play, sing and dance with their young children. Led by a professional dance teacher and supported by care staff, these sessions allow mother and baby to bond in the simplest and most natural of ways, generating habits of connection through touch, talk, movement and music that help to lay the foundations of good mental health for life. 

Trevor then interviews Alison O’Connor about how the performing arts are providing more holistic approaches for supporting veteran’s mental health, in addition to more traditional methods such as talking therapies.

Need support?
	If you need someone to talk to then Samaritans are available on 116 123 (UK) for free, 24/7. They are there to talk to, listen and they won't judge or tell you what to do. 
	C.A.L.M.: National helpline for men to talk about any troubles they are feeling. Call 0800 58 58 58 (UK). They are available 5pm-midnight 365 days a year.
	For support in a crisis, Text Shout to 85258. If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support.  Shout can help with urgent issues such as: Suicidal thoughts, abuse or assault, self-harm, bullying, relationship challenges.

Creativity & innovation - The creative arts / Mental health in the community

Our podcast has a new name and home. Click on the link to subscribe to our new podcast 'Let's Talk: Mental Health': https://www.buzzsprout.com/1919247/.

This is the Mental Health Foundation podcast. A series in which we bring to you a range of mental health topics, real life stories, expert comments and mental health tips.

Mental Health Foundation podcast

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