S3E6 - Why is North East England so mentally unwell? With Alisdair Cameron

North East England has the highest per capita use of antidepressant use in England and Wales and has had the highest suicide rate in England for 3 out of the past 4 years.

We are joined by Alasdair Cameron, co-director of Newcastle-based independent mental health charity ReCoco, to explore why.

We explore regional socio-economic factors impacting mental well-being, the inflexibility in mental health services between urban and rural areas, and ReCoco's peer-led initiatives to support those struggling. The episode also touches upon the potential for regional solutions through increased devolution and the need for community-driven support systems.

00:00 Introduction to Lively Minds Podcast

00:46 Mental Health Challenges in North East England

01:11 Interview with Alastair Cameron

01:36 Understanding the Mental Health Landscape

04:09 Socio-Economic Factors and Mental Health

06:01 Bespoke Approaches for Mental Health

10:10 The Role of ReCoco

18:22 Devolution and Mental Health

26:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Here is the video Will mentions that talks about how reluctant London’s local authorities were to relinquish power to the London Region. 

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Please note that this show does not constitute medical advice and is not a replacement for seeking professional help. You can find our more about the show and get signposting to support on our website livelymindspod.com