In this episode, Ciara Gorman speaks to Dr Lisa Bunting and Dr Paul Best from the School of Social Sciences and Social Work at QUB on the topic of mental health. Lisa gives us a broad overview of what we mean by ‘mental health’ and talks to us about her recent ground-breaking survey on mental health in young people in Northern Ireland. Paul chats to us about the work of the Digital Mental Health Network at QUB to develop the use of virtual, augmented and mixed reality technology in treating mental ill health. Please be aware that the content warnings for this episode include the topics of eating disorders, anxiety, PTSD and adverse childhood circumstances.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this programme, please reach out to someone. QUB students can get in touch with the QUB Wellbeing Services Team here: https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/sgc/wellbeing/InformationforStudents/SupportAvailable/

Anyone listening in Northern Ireland can contact Samaritans for support on 116 123 (free from any phone) or 0330 0940 5717 (local call charges apply). Anyone listening in the Republic of Ireland can contact Samaritans on 116 123 (free from any phone) or Aware on 1800 80 48 48 from 10am to 10pm every day.

If you are in distress or despair, freephone Lifeline NI on 0808 808 8000 or Samaritans on the number provided above.