Key themes of the season are focused on physical activity and movement, and how it can help with mental health…
This May, the Beeb is bringing audiences a wide range of mental health and wellbeing content that highlights the stories of those who are facing mental health struggles, as well as helping audiences explore what they can do to look after their mental wellbeing, and where to go for further support. A new website is the central hub of the BBC’s mental health and wellbeing content and includes tips to get you through the day, music and meditation to help you relax and advice for supporting yourself and others.
Charlotte Moore, BBC Chief Content Officer:
“The BBC has been at the forefront of raising awareness around mental health issues for many years through a range of programming, and our commitment continues with the launch of a new mental wellbeing website to coincide with this season. This year we have a breadth of content on TV, radio and digital that I hope will encourage conversation and importantly provide the tools and resources to help support people and those around them.”
BBC Children in Need will be launching a special campaign to raise awareness, deliver resources, and open up a nationwide conversation around children’s mental health while BBC Sounds features a new Self Care collection and the launch of a new podcast series with Dr Michael Mosley: Deep Calm as well as the Music & Meditation Podcast with Izzy Judd and a host of music titles from Mindful Mix to The Sleeping Forecast.
On television Countryfile sees Sean Fletcher and Margherita Taylor travel to The Sharpham Trust located in the beautiful wilds of South Devon which offers a range of programmes that help with different aspects of mental health and wellbeing.
Also the RHS Chelsea Flower Show will be championing the positive benefits of gardening on our mental wellbeing. Some of the main show gardens are promoting the importance of access to green spaces for communities to connect with nature, whilst others have been designed for patient recovery in hospitals or as restorative spaces for all.
In addition to the gardens there are many examples of the power of horticulture for wellbeing throughout the showground, such as in the House Plant Studios notably ‘The Glass House’ which is highlighting the power of plants to change the lives of women in prison.
The One Show are running a series of films dedicated to mental health as part of the BBC Mental Wellbeing Season. This includes a film with Peter Andre about a café that promotes wellbeing and another about 12 NHS frontline nurses going on a restorative weekend to feel the transformative effect of being in nature. The first film airs tonight and explores the stigma around suicide with renowned barrister Michael Mansfield who is best known for his work on some of the biggest miscarriages of justice. In 2015, Michael faced a very personal tragedy when his daughter, Anna, took her own life.
There is also a host of radio programming across the season which includes The Archers. The world’s longest-running soap will explore how one event can have far-reaching and unexpected consequences on mental health. No stranger to covering these sensitive topics, radio’s best-loved audio drama has tackled drug and alcohol abuse, depression, psychosis and the damaging long term effects of coercive control and abuse.
The season is being supported by fitness coach Joe Wicks, who presented the acclaimed documentary about his parents’ mental health issues, Joe Wicks: Facing my Childhood. He has recorded two special mood-boosting workouts for when you are feeling overwhelmed, alongside bespoke video content, a Mindful Mix for BBC Soundsand a specially curated Wellbeing Watchlist on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Homepage.
Joe Wicks:
“I’m really proud to be involved in the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season because it’s something I’m so passionate about. To take care of your mental health, you’ve got to take care of your physical health, they are so interlinked. I’d like to say to anyone who is struggling, I really hope that they will lean on this season and look out for the content. Some of the conversations that are had could really help you.”
