In this weeks' episode - a must listen in my eyes for everybody out there - I spoke with Siobhan O'Neill, Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland. Siobhan was appointed MHC following the agreement of the "New Decade, New Approach" deal which saw the Northern Ireland Assembly back up and running after 3 years of no first-hand government in NI - and it was Siobhan's many years of psychology and mental health research & teaching that put her forward as the best person for the role.

In the episode, Siobhan talks with me on a range of subjects;

• More on her background & the appointment of MHC for NI
• Tips & guidance on "self-care" and why it could be the most important thing you could focus on in 2021
• Developing a world-class 10 year mental health strategy for Northern Ireland and the roll-out which will happen over the coming months and years
• Schools & the impact of home-schooling in a pandemic to a child's development and social skills 
• How to turn stress into a positive by channeling it to action with purpose
• How we as a society move out of a pandemic later in 2021 and what we all need to remember and not take for granted moving forward
• Focusing on the present - not the past and not the future - but being in the now and building routines of communication and looking after yourself in the right ways to stay on top of everything

This was a really enjoyable and thought-provoking episode to record - and one I'm honoured to have had the chance to chat through with the delightful Siobhan O'Neill. I hope you enjoy the episode and please - more important than ever - share this widely as we don't know who amongst us might be struggling and needing some helpful guidance and somebody to know they care as much as in this current time.

Look after yourselves, and speak soon!