My campaigns

If you're looking for a guest speaker, a guest blogger or someone to interview on topics including men's mental health, stigma, anxiety, bipolar disorder - or in fact, any of the related topics discussed on this site, then maybe I can help? If you’d like me to share my story in the press, on air or at your event, please contact me.

This page includes references to my published work, interviews and public speaking activities.

End Stigma Surrey - Lived Experience Champion

I am a Mental Health Lived Experience Champion for End Stigma Surrey.

This means I campaign to reduce the stigma and discrimination experienced by people with lived experience of mental health issues. I do this primarily by setting an example. I'm not afraid to show myself as someone who has experienced mental health issues and demonstrate that when it comes to what I can do or be, I'm no different to anyone else.  I'm not frighted to talk candidly and in depth about what can be very sensitive topics.  I do this because I want to improve knowledge and understanding and normalise mental health issues in society. 

​By improving awareness we can change attitudes and behaviours of the population at large towards people who currently have or have previously experienced mental health needs.

End Stigma Surrey - Launch Event

In October 2022, I was delighted to have been asked to give a talk at the official launch of the End Stigma Surrey campaign in the Horton Arts Centre near Epsom. ​End Stigma Surrey is a campaign and programme to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health.

I spoke about experiences with a previous employer where a lack of understanding of mental health issues by a senior manager resulted in prejudice and discrimination towards me which meant I was 'reshuffled' out of a role I not only I worked incredibly hard to attain, but also very much loved.

This talk was a big deal for me as it's the first time I've opened up in public about my mental health.

It was so really lovely to meet you and hear your story yesterday - massive well done to you - you smashed it!! Well done for ‘speaking up and speaking out’ I feel it’s so important to do this as ‘peer to peer’ can really help people too, as it’s a share of knowledge, energy and I feel helps people accept and understand, themselves and to support others.  I admire you for being brave it’s not always easy but you have done the hardest bit and that’s to start. Keep being inspirational and the truly authentic lovely person you are.
-- Mandi, Event Delegate

Mary Frances Trust - Writing and Interviews

The Mary Frances Trust is a charity for supporting anyone with any kind of emotional or mental health issues which is local to me in Leatherhead.  Following my mental health crisis in 2020 I started to wonder whether sharing my interpretation of my experience may help others.  

They allowed me to start to open up publicly, but in a very gentle way.  I started writing for them and was able to remain anonymous. Something that allowed me to be very honest in my writing.  

Following this, I also participated in a couple of interviews for their Wellbeing Hour on Surrey Hills Radio which you can listen to below.

Chris first got in touch when we launched our Men’s Wellbeing Matter campaign. We were looking for men to share their experience of mental health to break the taboo and raise awareness. He offered to blog for us and share his experience as he was rebuilding his confidence and life, after a mental health breakdown. Over time, Chris started to unveil more and more about himself in blogs, revealing that he had bipolar, how his self-stigma stopped him from getting help early, what he was doing to support his wellbeing in the hope that it might inspire others. This led to more blogs and two radio interviews on our own radio programme!

It’s been a privilege to work with him and to publish his wonderful blogs, so well written, so insightful and always going deep at the heart of every issue. Chris is a fantastic interviewee and public speaker as he is very open, very honest and very self-reflective. He has a way of captivating his audience and making everything he says very relatable.
​-- Connie, Communications Lead, Mary Frances Trust

5 July 2021

Our July show, aired on Monday 5 July at 9pm, was dedicated to Co-Production Week (5-9 July) and celebrating the crucial work and contributions of our Advisory Group.

The agenda included discussions exploring ways to support your wellbeing, including the power of journaling with MFT client Chris and MFT Arts Facilitator Taryn.

1 March 2021

To mark World Bipolar Day (30 March) and as part of our Men’s Wellbeing Matters campaign to encourage men to open up about mental health, we held a panel discussion with Laurence and Chris, two male clients of MFT who shared their experience of being bipolar and what has helped them to manage the condition. They also give their advice on why men should never delay opening up about their mental health.​

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