With Colin Cox, Director of Public Health at Cumberland Council 

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In the first episode of MAD: Making a Difference in Cumbria, host Joy Duxbury, Professor of Mental Health at the University of Cumbria, is joined by Colin Cox, Director of Public Health at Cumberland Council.

Joy and Colin talk about mental health, wellbeing and what helps communities thrive. Colin shares how he came to work in public health and why he believes that some experiences we describe in medical terms can also be understood as responses to the social, economic and environmental circumstances people are living through. They explore some of the challenges facing Cumbria, including health inequalities, deprivation and suicide prevention, as well as what these issues mean for children and young people.

At the heart of the conversation is connection. Joy and Colin reflect on the strength of Cumbrian communities and the role that relationships, volunteering and community action play in supporting wellbeing. The episode concludes on a hopeful note, with Colin sharing what supports his own wellbeing and reflecting on the importance of optimism, community engagement, and continuing conversations that can help create positive change across Cumbria.

Key themes: Mental health, public health, community resilience, social determinants of health, suicide prevention, wellbeing, connection, and creating positive change in Cumbria.

Show Notes & Resources:

Cumberland Council – Public Health: Find out more about public health in Cumberland, including the councils annual reports. One particularly relevant report is “What is normal anyway? De-medicalising mental health and Neurodiversity”, which closely reflects some of the ideas Colin discusses in the episode.  

Every Life Matters: A Cumbrian charity working to prevent suicide and support people affected by suicide. Their website includes information for people experiencing suicidal thoughts, people worried about someone else and those bereaved by suicide.  

Samaritans: This episode includes discussion of mental health difficulties, suicide, trauma and socio-economic hardship. If you need someone to talk to, you can call Samaritans free on 116 123, any time, day or night.  

With Mary Smith (CEO) and Diane Bell from Growing Well

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In this episode of  MAD: Making a Difference in Cumbria, host Joy Duxbury, Professor of Mental Health at the University of Cumbria, is joined by Mary Smith, Chief Executive of Growing Well, and Diane, a volunteer and ambassador for the charity.  Mary shares how Growing Well has developed from an empty field near Kendal to a charity supporting people across three sites in Cumbria. She explains how therapeutic horticulture, routine meaningful activity can support mental health and wellbeing, and why community-based support is particularly important in rural communities.

Diane shares her own experience of coming to Growing Well during a difficult period in her life and how being outdoors, learning new skills and becoming part of a supportive community helped her rebuild her confidence. She reflects on her journey from the participant to the ambassador and what it now means to support others.  Together, Joy, Mary and Diane explore what recovery can look like beyond traditional services and the importance of having opportunities to connect, contribute and find purpose within your own community.

Key Themes: Mental Health and Wellbeing, Therapeutic Horticulture, Rurality, Social Connection, Recovery.

Show Notes & Resources:

Growing Well⁠: Find out more about Growing Well and its’s mental health recovery programmes across Kendal, West Cumbria and Tebay. On the website you can access support from Growing Well, including a self-referral and referrals for someone else.

With Leanne Gelder, Head of Quality Transformation at NHS England

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In this episode of the Making a Difference podcast, host Joy Duxbury, Professor of Mental Health at the University of Cumbria, is joined by Leanne Gelder, Head of Quality Transformation at NHS England. Together, they explore the national picture of mental health care and what changes policy, and practice can mean for communities in Cumbria, particularly in rural areas where access to services can be challenging.

Leanne reflects on her journey from mental health nursing to her current national role and her longstanding passion for improving the quality of care and reducing restrictive practices. She discusses what people with lived experience have said good quality mental health care looks like, including the importance of trusting relationships, feeling safe and maintaining connections with family and community.

Joy and Leanne also discuss new approaches to mental health support and what that could mean for rural communities like Cumbria. Their conversation returns to the importance of listening to the people who use the services and keeping lived experience, relationships and connection central to how menta health care develops.

Key Themes: Mental Health Care, Lived Experience, Quality Improvement, Restrictive Practices, Rurality, Community

Show Notes & Resources:

Culture of Care Standards for Mental Health Inpatient Services – NHS England⁠: Co-produced standards setting out the culture and quality of care that people using mental health inpatient services, families, carers and staff should experience.

Improving the Culture of Care – NHS England⁠: Find out more about the Culture of Care Improvement Programme and work to improve experiences of inpatient mental health care.

24/7 Neighbourhood Mental Health Centres – NHS England⁠: Information about the new neighbourhood mental health centre model, including the Copeland pilot in Cumbria, providing more accessible and community-based mental health support.

Growing Well⁠: Find out more about Growing Well and its approach to supporting mental health through horticulture, meaningful activity and community.