SPOKE

I can't stop thinking about this advice a friend once told me: "You can’t expect people to meet you where you are. They can only meet you as deeply as they’ve met themselves, and vice versa" It’s part of the reason I’m passionate about working in mental health. Our society is disconnected and lonely. How can we meet each other in more meaningful ways?

Just released 🌞 my podcast interview with Startups.co.uk Lovely speaking with Eloise Skinner about the story of SPOKE - our inception and incredible journey to creating a world-first music and lyrics-led mental health solution It’s not been an easy journey at all, but worth every moment Please note this podcast was recorded a few months ago and I have some big updates I’ll be announcing next week https://lnkd.in/emjXCt5X **Content warning – this linked post, and the podcast it promotes, covers issues relating to suicide and mental health. If you have been impacted by these issues, there are some resources at the bottom of the article which may help you.

Do you believe music and humour can be therapeutic? At our #WPPStream discussion, Bejay Mulenga MBE and I explored how music and humour can be powerful tools for healing. Some key points that came up: 🧠 Music helps us access the ‘alpha’ brain state, enhancing creativity and clarity. 💜 Many shared how music allowed them to express grief or trauma in ways that words alone couldn’t. 😄 Laughter provides a powerful physical release, helping us process emotions. 🏥 Music has been used as therapy for thousands of years, with hospitals today still harnessing its healing power. & so much more came up. At the end, Bejay Mulenga MBE led us into a chanting affirmation together, which beautifully demonstrated how our minds sync when we sing or move as one. This was an incredible discussion and a reminder of why I’m working in this space. I truly believe music and artists can be powerful tools for healing and social change. Have you ever had a healing experience through music or humour? If you’re comfortable, I’d love to hear your story in the comments below! 👇

Munya Chawawa is a genius and here’s why In times of crisis, we need voices that cut through the noise with truth, wit, and courage. Munya has done just that, using satire to help expose the reality that the #UKGovernment is complicit in genocide. His latest video is a masterclass in fearless criticism, blending humor and sharp commentary to challenge those in power. This video is not about the laughs—it’s about holding people accountable in ways that our media tiptoes around (or doesn’t do at all). Munya reminds us that comedy isn’t just entertainment; it can be activism too. It can be a tool for those who dare to speak truth to power, and in today’s climate, we need more of it. Keir Starmer David Lammy UK Civil Service Labour Party (UK) Royal Air Force (RAF) British Army #FreePalestine

Resharing this powerful set of mental health takeaways by Leslie Priscilla. (Whose work you should absolutely check out!) Work in mental health is about social justice, equality, equity and liberation. These are the things that will truly solve the mental health crisis Mental health is political - anyone who tells you otherwise is just too privileged to realise it Most mental health tools won’t be needed once we address the root causes - and that begins by *understanding* the root causes I’d really love to learn about more mental health organisations or people that have an aligned ethos. Please tag them below 👇🙏 #WorldMentalHealthDay #mentalhealth

Have you ever considered the below to be contributing factors to mental health?: 💵 Your socioeconomic ‘status’ (high or low) and the conditions that contribute to it 💎 How your society perceives your ‘class’ 🪪 How your society perceives your nationality, race or ethic background ☪️✡️✝️☯️ How your society perceives your religion ⚙️ How much autonomy you feel you have of your life’s outcomes 🌳 What access you have to nature or how much time you can spend outdoors 🌍 Existential dread due to pain across the world and environmental disasters 🫂 The extent to which you feel alone 🧠 The extent to which you can effectively manage underlying conditions (depression, ADHD, etc..) These are just a few examples of societal, environmental and systemic conditions that can have a massive affect on our mental health. As a worker in mental health at societal level, I’ve seen issues such as the above show up in very intense ways for people of all ages Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay and it’s a great day to take some actions to support our own mental health and that of our community and society. Some suggestions for actions: 1. Take 10 mins for yourself today. Just a walk or listen to some music (a SPOKE session is perfect). Thank you Ravi Rai for helping me take this time 2. Reach out to a friend you care about and just check in 3. Look up some ways you can support mental health in your community (perhaps there’s a local charity or project) I’d also like to announce that I’m building the foundations of a project with some of the worlds best thinkers in the intersection of mental health, music and the arts and social change, to take the impact of mental health work as deep as we can possible go. Watch this space, more to be announced soon. I’d love to know if any of the above resonates and if you plan to take any actions today? ❤️

Today, on the 7th of October, I’m reflecting on the 200,000+ lives needlessly lost over the past year. As someone deeply involved in mental health at a societal level, I’ve seen how this past year has shaken the foundations of the world. Millions of the most sensitive and compassionate individuals have had their hearts and minds irrevocably changed. I’ve received countless messages from young people, some as young as 12, saying they “just can’t cope” with what they’re witnessing. They thought they lived in a society that valued human life. This past year has exposed harsh truths to millions more: ⁃ The fallacy of ‘western democracy’ ⁃ The selective application of ‘international law,’ only protecting white lives ⁃ The glaring biases in our media ⁃ The US’s prioritisation of foreign weapon aid over the wellbeing of American citizens, even after a deadly flood ⁃ The horrific normalisation of war, justified by proven lies and propaganda People around the world are now terrified of a future led by those who justify these atrocities. At the core of our mental health crisis is a broken system, one that’s rotten to its roots. The only hope is that so many more people now see it for what it is, and can now do the necessary work to fix it So today, as you send your prayers for all the lives lost, please think about how you can contribute to building a better future 🌍❤️

How does music shape the fabric of society and our mental health? What is the role of music when we are trying to create systemic change in today's digital world? Looking forward to discussing this incredibly important topic on Thursday, at Dr. Becky Inkster's 'Digital Innovation in Mental Health' conference. (https://lnkd.in/epgasNj6) Music is a part of the fabric of humanity; we have always used songs for community building, celebration, leading social movements and so much more. Wisdom and stories are carried on through song, and musicians are at the helm of every subculture. "Artists are the world's natural healers" - I have said this for years now. Music is such an integral part of human culture, so the way it transitions and scales through technology should strive to retain the artist's integrity. In this conversation, I and other experts will discuss how music can be viewed through a systemic lens, meaning how it affects us on a societal level; our culture, health, visions for the future and even politics. In this discussion, we will zoom out a little from the specific ways music heals us on a physiological and neurological level, to which there are many, and discuss the ways music shapes the fabric of our society. We aim for you to leave feeling hopeful, inspired and full of ideas. Join the panel conversation on this topic: Thursday, 18 July / 2:05 - 2:55 pm UK Time Link for more info and to attend: https://lnkd.in/epgasNj6 #music #mentalhealth #digitalinnovation

An oldie but a goodie. Did you know that our brain is intrinsically linked with music? Bobby McFerrin's TED talk "Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus" is an extraordinary example of this connection. The talk explores the pentatonic scale, a 5-note scale that belongs to the naturally occurring harmonic series of notes. Multiple researchers argue that our brains are tuned to these notes at birth. Watch the video to learn more about this fascinating topic and share your thoughts in the comments. https://lnkd.in/eU9iyU5y

Along my journey with SPOKE I have never stopped researching and learning, which I guess makes me a perpetual student! 😅 I've been researching the intersection of mental health, society, the arts and technology for over 4 years. My academic focus remains on mental health as a global systemic social issue. The mental health epidemic is undeniably intertwined with our environment and societal systems, which are unfortunately *not* designed to enhance our well-being. It's crucial to raise awareness about this systemic challenge and recognise ourselves as integral parts of a collective. Once it is laid out it really all makes perfect sense Last week, I shared some of these insights during my keynote at #LondonTechWeek. #MentalHealth #Technology #Research #Awareness #LondonTechWeek