Mental Health Keynote & Workshop in support of 'Mind'
50% of my fees from Keynotes and workshops for parents, schools and businesses based specifically on my family’s experiences of Hannah’s mental health challenges, and what I have learnt from the experience that can support others to have open and honest conversations about mental health, will be donated to Mind via Work for Good. These keynotes/workshops will be clearly marketed and sold as raising funds for Mind.
On 26th September 2024, my youngest daughter Hannah was detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act and was subsequently held in a psychiatric ward for two weeks under this section.
Mind, the mental health charity, were invaluable in helping me navigate the complex legal situation. The person I spoke to on the legal helpline was so kind and helpful, and gave me so much information I needed. The website information was also really clear and useful, not just for me and my husband, but for Hannah, too.
Hannah bravely decided, at the time, to share her journey by raising funds for Mind for her 25th Birthday (she raised over £600!), and gave me permission to share our family’s story in order to help others.
In November 2025, Hannah and I are taking part in Mind’s “30 days of yoga in November” challenge, to raise further funds for the charity.
I have created a keynote and workshop for parents (but not only – also for anyone working in schools, and for businesses), to help them know what I wish I had known: How to talk to people about mental health, and how to look after ourselves while we support those we care about.
I want to not only share what I have learnt, but support Mind in doing so, by donating 50% of all my fees from this specific keynote and workshop to Mind.
What I wish I'd known sooner: Removing the fear and stigma from important mental health conversations (keynote or workshop)
On 26th September 2024, my youngest daughter, Hannah, was detained under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act and was subsequently held in a psychiatric ward for two weeks under this section.
As awful and terrifying as this experience was for her, and for the whole family, we have learnt a lot about the conversations we wish we’d had more openly over the previous 10 years.
We are still learning, and the challenges have continued for Hannah, but after a further brief hospital stay (voluntary, this time), she is continuing to make progress with, finally, lots of proper professional support in place.
In this keynote or workshop, delegates will find out how to have these crucial conversations about mental health with family, friends and colleagues, without fear or stigma.
I will tailor the keynote or workshop to the particular audience, whether it’s a group of parents, a staff group in a school, leaders and middle managers in a business or other organisation, human resources professionals, or community group.
The information I will share will be based on my own and my family’s experience, what I have learnt through supporting my daughter through her mental health challenges (including the challenges in accessing appropriate support!), and my previous work as a trainer for a mental health charity (which included becoming a trained mental health first aider).
