ITN mental health champion

I’m proud to say I’m going to become production company ITN’s first mental health champion.

In the future other volunteer champions will join me. They’ll be taught how to recognise the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues. And we’ll provide help to colleagues on a ‘first aid’ basis and guide those in need towards the right support services.

I’m already a trained assessor and hold an MSc in psychology with a focus on trauma, recovery and healing. I have personal experience of surviving breast cancer, which I’ve captured in my book Rise where I explore resilience using both personal experiences and scientific research. I’ve also made many training films for journalists, helping them to recognise mental health issues in themselves and others.

I’m really honoured to have this role and hope other newsrooms and employers will do the same in the future – it’s a great initiative and it’s really important to promote wellbeing at work.