10:00

Welcome
An introduction by Tania Diggory
and Dennis Relojo-Howell

10:05

Guided Meditation:
Led by Self-Care Practitioner Valerie Teh

Get started on your Good Mental Health journey with a grounding guided meditation, set your intentions for the day and embrace a sense of calm, clarity and focus. Valerie Teh believes the true essence of self-care is rooted within – that you already have everything you need. Inspired by the practices of Yoga, Breathwork and Meditation, alongside her transformational journey through Anxiety, Depression and Grief, Valerie is deeply committed to supporting individuals like you, as you are, to your true potential.

A Workplace with a Soul: Creating a Culture of Authenticity
Interview with Bruce Daisley, led by Tania Diggory

Due to fast-paced digital communication and increased remote working for many businesses, boundaries are now blurring. This in-depth conversation will unpack the ever-changing landscape of the working world and what’s to come, the importance of nurturing a culture of wellness in your company, and what that looks like. We will also identify companies at the forefront of prioritising mental health and what we can all do to inspire a workplace of authenticity, creativity and inspiration.n

11:00

Break & Partner Talk: Speaker Express

Beyond Resilience:
Presentation by Dr Mark Hoelterhoff

Dr Mark Hoelterhoff will share his expertise and insights on how we can move beyond being resilient. There’s an abundance of stories of resilience in many cultures. But due to a constellation of factors – such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing levels of stress due to organisational changes, and stigma surrounding mental health – our preconceived notions of what it takes to be resilient has been challenged. This presentation, therefore, seeks to clarify what resilience is, identify how to deal with life events beyond resilience, and how to thrive.

12:00

Break & Partner feature: Solar Radio

Mental Health in the Creative Industries: Panel Discussion with
JP Cooper, Mel Phillips, Leo Anna Thomas and Joe Hastings

Creativity has been known to foster good mental health. Yet, rather ironically, many people working in the creative industries are facing serious issues within the sector. For instance, research reveals that those who work in the creative sector are three times more likely to experience mental health issues. It is therefore crucial that a conversation dedicated to these individuals takes place. 

A sense of connection and fun can generate more positive mental health and wellbeing. Led by a range of experts in the creative industries, from those who work behind the scenes to those in front of the camera, this panel discussion aims to cultivate opportunities on how the creative sector can foster an atmosphere of acceptance so that individuals can safely and openly talk about their internal struggles, access support and prioritise their mental health.

13:00

Stand-up Comedy:
Joshua Robertson shows us the power of comedy

Joshua Robertson is a professional comedian, actor and writer, and motivational speaker with a powerful story to share. Having endured a serious motorbike crash when he was 11 years old, which left him in a coma for four months, Joshua now lives with a physical disability. He made an inspiring choice to harness his powerful story through comedy and as a result has performed around the world, including the famous London Comedy Store; home to many of the world’s stand-out comedians.

13:15

Break & Partner feature: Longevity

13:30

A conversation with Premila Puri:
Making Kindness the Norm

Premila Puri is a true advocate for kindness, and this shines through her work as a professional in the film industry, and as the founder of Be Kind Movement. Here we will host a Q&A with Premila who will share her perspective on the impact of kindness, practical things we can all do to make kindness “the norm” in our daily lives, and ways to get involved and join in the Be Kind Movement.

13:45

Break & Partner Feature: Monday State of Mind

Men’s Mental Health and The Power of Vulnerability:
Keynote Talk by Dan Keeley

In 2017, after a 5 year battle with bipolar disorder and coming close to taking his own life, Dan ran 1,250 miles from the Colosseum in Rome back to the London Eye (solo, and self-supported) to share his story on an international scale - raising over £15,000 for the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and inspiring thousands of Men (and women) to speak up about their own personal battles. Dan is now widely recognised as one of the UK’s most passionate and committed keynote speakers and mental health activists.

During this immersive keynote talk, Dan will be sharing his impactful story, and why he’s so committed to creating a world where everyone has the courage, support and safe space to speak up when they are suffering. He will also delve into a conversation around the power of vulnerability – particularly with men – and why this is one of the most exciting conversations we could be having as a society in the times we’re living in.

14:45

Break & Partner Talk: Startups Magazine

Digital Storytelling: From Creative Outlet to Career Path
Writing workshop by Dennis Relojo-Howell and Besma Whayeb

Dennis Relojo-Howell and Besma Whayeb will deliver a workshop to encourage participants to experience the therapeutic power of digital storytelling.

No one should struggle with mental health issues on their own. And stories, particularly digital stories in the form of blogging, can offer much-needed support. This workshop will shed light on how digital storytelling can help promote positive mental health and wellbeing. To be delivered by award-winning mental health bloggers, this workshop will cover the mental health aspects within blogging, the benefits of blogging, and how to get started. They will also share the technical know-how of launching your very own blog, and explore a range of exclusive blogging tools to get you started on your writing journey - whatever your writing mission, passion or purpose.

15:45

Empowering you and your next steps
Closing discussion by Tania Diggory
and Dennis Relojo-Howell

16:00

Festival ends

Dennis Relojo-Howell: Award-Winning Mental Health Blogger, Founder of Psychreg and GMH Co-Host

Dennis has been a professional blogger since 2004 and launched Psychreg in 2014, while achieving his Masters Degree in Psychology. Dennis’ advocacy of the psychological benefits of blogging has led him to write about mental health for various publications and to speak at events in different countries.

Dennis has also been dubbed the world’s first blog psychologist and recently won Blogger of the Year at the Mental Health Blog Awards 2020.

Tania Diggory: Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Author, Founder & Director of Calmer and GMH Co-Host

Tania Diggory is an author, international speaker and Founder & Director of Calmer, a training organisation that empowers entrepreneurs and purposeful teams to nurture good mental health and wellbeing. Tania has run three different businesses before the age of 30 and has consulted and trained over 300 companies on their mental health strategy.

The Calmer team were proud to win Mental Health Campaign of the Year for The Reignite Project at the 2019 This Can Happen Awards.

Bruce Daisley: Ex-Twitter VP, Best-Selling Author and Podcast Host for Eat Sleep Work Repeat

Bruce Daisley is one of the world's most influential voices on fixing work. His book was the UK's top selling business hardback of 2019 and is an international bestseller, translated into 14 languages. Previously, Bruce spent over a decade running Twitter and YouTube (the latter at Google) for Europe, leaving Twitter as its most senior leader outside of the US. 

Bruce runs the Apple #1 Business Chart topping podcast Eat Sleep Work Repeat on work culture. He now spends his time championing reforms to workplace culture and working to find solutions to climate change.

JP Cooper: Best-Selling Singer and Songwriter

JP Cooper is a best-selling singer-songwriter, who has achieved two Top Ten and Platinum-Selling singles with Perfect Strangers (featuring Jonas Blue) and September Song. The successful Mancunian artists 2017 debut album, Raised Under Grey Skies, achieved 835,000 worldwide album sales, and on a global scale, his total streaming numbers have topped over two billion.

Signed to Island Records, JP Cooper has been in the music industry for 15 + years and has collaborated with a number of world-renowned artists. He is also an advocate for mental health and has supported and fundraised for a number of mental health charitable causes.

Mel Phillips: Ex-Programme Manager for Game events at BAFTA, Head of Silver Rain Games Studio

Mel Phillips is the Head of Silver Rain Games Studio. She was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women Working in Games in 2019 (Gi. Biz) and was one of ten people awarded for her Services to Games by the H100 Club.

Mel has worked in the Learning and New Talent sector since 2013, launching the BAFTA Crew Games Programme, developing the BAFTA Young Game Designers Competition, and producing large scale events for BAFTA Members. Mel has been Nominated for multiple awards led by organisations such as Future Stars of Tech, Digital Leaders and MCV Women in Game Awards.

Dan Keeley: Mental Health Activist, Motivational Speaker and Founder & Mission Director of #AREWEOKUK

Dan Keeley is one of the UK’s most collaborative and committed thought-leaders, mental health activists and keynote speakers, on a mission to bring the 
UK together to talk about what really matters most.

Dan is also the Founder & Mission Director of #AREWEOKUK, a social enterprise on a mission to empower the UK to speak up when we’re suffering so that together we can show future generations how it’s done.

Besma Whayeb, Award-Winning Blogger and Founder of Ethical Influencers

Besma Whayeb is a sustainable living expert and advocate, dedicated to finding kinder ways to live and dress. Her blog, Curiously Conscious, is a leading sustainable fashion and lifestyle site, and was awarded Top UK Green Blog in 2018, 2019 & 2020.

Besma is also the Founder of Ethical Influencers, a digital community doing good. Consisting of over 800+ likeminded bloggers and influencers from 42 nations around the world, collectively working towards a better world.

Dr Mark Hoelterhoff: Counselling Psychologist and University Lecturer in Clinical Psychology

Dr Mark Hoelterhoff has been in the field of mental wellbeing for over 25 years. As a Counselling Psychologist, his experience includes working alongside people in both private practise and third sector organisations around the world.

His work is to promote the development of Psychological Capital (PsyCap) to enable individuals and communities to thrive. His therapeutic approach is based on Positive Psychology and he has worked at several higher education institutions before featuring at the University of Edinburgh.

Leo Anna Thomas: Film & TV Art Director, Wellbeing Facilitator and Director at 6ft From the Spotlight

Leo Anna Thomas has worked within the Art Department of the Film & TV Industry since 2003. Following her own personal struggles with mental health and subsequent recovery, Leo is now a mental health advocate, Mental Health First Aider, and has worked as a Wellbeing Facilitator on three productions during 2018-2019 as a duel role.

In collaboration with Matt Longley, Co-Founder of 6ft From the Spotlight, their mission is to create and ensure quality mental health and wellbeing support on every Film, TV, Music and Theatre set.

Valerie Teh: Self-Care Practitioner

Valerie Teh began to understand the possibilities of self-care and personal transformation through meditation, mindful movement and breath when it helped her through the loss of her father.

Seeking to deepen her knowledge in these fields, she has studied with world-renowned yoga and breathwork master Max Strom, and is also trained in Aerial Yoga, Mandala Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. Providing an authentic and supportive learning environment, Valerie’s passion for teaching stems from a desire to help others help themselves, supporting them to reach their full potential.

Joe Hastings: Head of Health and Welfare at
Help Musicians UK

Joe oversees all health and welfare activities and is responsible for the development of new support services within the team at Help Musicians UK.
He was instrumental in facilitating the delivery of the Musicians Hearing Health Scheme, which to date has had an intake of 4,700 musicians accessing state-of-the-art hearing advice and protection.

Joe has been instrumental in creating and delivering the Music Minds Matter support line. Joe is particularly keen on looking to develop services that support healthy careers for musicians.

Joshua Robertson: Professional Comedian, Actor and Writer

Joshua Robertson has been working as a comedian, actor and writer since 2012. Having endured a serious motor bike crash when he was 11 years old, which left him in a coma for four months, Joshua now lives with a physical disability.

He made an inspiring choice to harness his powerful story through comedy, and as a result has performed across the UK, New York City, Indonesia, and all over Australia, including Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Premila Puri: Film Producer, Director and Founder of Be Kind Movement Charity

Premila Puri is a true advocate for kindness, and this shines through her work as a professional in the film industry, and as the founder of Be Kind Movement.

Be Kind Movement is the Charity partner for the Good Mental Health festival, which was established to amplify the power of kindness through education. Their mission is to provide access to education for women and children that is academic, vocational and experiential, and their purpose is to fund projects that educate, create sustainable impact and transform hearts and minds