OCD AND ME

52-minute documentary film

An intriguing insight into a condition that many of us share to some degree - Irish Independent.

An incredibly powerful documentary – The Saturday Night Show.

Most people have heard of OCD but what exactly is obsessive compulsive disorder? It affects between 2-3% of the population and presents itself in many unusual guises. People are often surprised to learn that OCD goes far beyond the common perception of excessive hand washing or the repetitive checking of light switches.
OCD is an extreme anxiety-related condition where a person experiences frequent, intrusive, and unwelcome obsessive thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses, or urges.
To get an understanding of this disturbing mental illness we spend time with some people who have agreed to come forward and talk about their OCD. We also feature experts in the field and an anxiety support groups in the west of Ireland.
Jacob is a 25-year-old Dublin artist whose daily existence is dominated by his battle with severe contamination OCD where he views himself as ‘OCD clean’ and most of the world as ‘OCD dirty’. Jacob gets frustrated with the lack of awareness of this disorder and throw away phrases like ‘a little bit OCD’ which make a joke of this mental illness. His mother, Mella, also lives with her own form of OCD. Mella gives us a unique perspective, not only as a parent of a son who is unable to touch her, but also as someone who has lived with her own OCD since youth.
Eileen, in her 60’s, lives in Sligo town and is part of a local anxiety support group. She has lived with her OCD for the last 50 years and says it has destroyed her life. She hopes sharing her story might stop others from going through the same hell. Her OCD has come in many forms, hand washing, praying, folding clothes etc. If she does certain rituals, she believes it will prevent terrible things from happening to people in her family. We spend time at home with Eileen and get exclusive access to the weekly support group where Eileen and others talk openly about this sometimes-embarrassing disorder.
Simon is a highly functional 32-year-old Dubliner who works for a prominent Dublin radio station. He has lived with a variety of forms of OCD and has started talking openly about the condition in recent months. Simon brings us to his old school, back to a street where he was convinced, he had caused a road accident and to St Patrick’s Hospital where his life was transformed.
OCD is the third most common concern reported to St Patrick’s mental-health support services in Ireland and The World Health Organisation lists it as one of the 10 most debilitating illnesses on the planet. OCD and Me gives us a greater understanding of this secretive and often misunderstood condition.

Producer/Director: Adrian McCarthy
Editor: Brenda Morrissey
DoP: Eleanor Bowman
Ass Producer: Zlata Filipovic
Exec Producer RTÉ: Niamh O’Connor
Exec Producer: Martha O’Neill
Sound: Sue Downey

A Wildfire Films Production for RTÉ.

Michelle Collins

Star of stage and screen Michelle Collins is the Patron of SHOUT LONDON. In addition to her international acting, producing and writing career, Michelle is passionate about her charity work. She is the Ambassador for Dementia for Ashford Place, an Ambassador for animal charity All Dogs Matter, as well as supporting many other charities including the Barnardo's "fashion for all" campaign, to mention a few.

Maria Mcateer

Maria is half Irish, half Trinidadian. She trained as an RGN/SRN/Midwife before studying drama at The Poor School. As an actor her tv credits include: Byker Grove, Finney, Harry, The Bill, Call Red, nearly always returning to tv hospitals to play nurses! Theatre credits include: Theatre Centre, Krazy Kat, Damn Cheek, Tara Arts, Talawa, Singapore Rep, Ridiculusmus, Brighton Beam, Explore The Arch & other eclectic theatre companies. Maria won National Westminster Playwright Awards for first two plays “Cat-food” and “Little Secrets” both produced and performed at Soho Theatre. She’s had several plays produced and performed since then including: “The Bees Mouth,” “My Friend Lester,” “One Last Look,” and most recently “The Guinness Girl.” "The Guinness Girl" play was a huge success and is soon to be made into a major feature film
Maria’s late father Al Timothy was a well known jazz musician and composer who penned the hit “Kiss Me Honey Honey Kiss Me.” Inspired by her father Maria studied jazz vocal at Chichester College and is a regular vocalist on the jazz circuit.
Other Awards: All England, All Ireland and World Champion Irish Dancer.

I AM GEN Z

Investigated through expert interviews and the web lens of Generation Z, the feature documentary film explores how the explosion of the digital revolution is impacting our society, our brains and mental health, how the forces driving it are working against humanity and have put us on a dangerous trajectory that has huge ramifications for this first generation growing up with mobile digital technology. The film has enjoyed worldwide success at international film festivals.

Janet Reeve

Janet Reeve is delighted to be part of the first SHOUT festival with a reading of the title poem from her collection – Make it okay. Her quirky verse charts the joy, depression, pain, frivolity, greed, confusion and passion of a heart determined to remain open to love. In 2015, Janet’s novel The Shark Party, an artworld thriller, was called ‘A brave, enthralling first book’ for highlighting intimate partner violence before #MeToo was born. Find @janetreevewarrior on IG and glimpse the nature images that fire her imagination.

What's Going On In Your Head? #BeTheLight

A stigma-busting hard-hitting audio visual experience from What’s Going On In Your Head? directed and edited by Liz Smith. Featuring performances from artists including Shocka, SK Shlomo, Hyphen and The Castell Brothers. Find out how you can #BeTheLight to help someone out from the dark.

Jon Salmon

Jon Salmon is an award-winning video executive producer, a digital pioneer and co-founder of branded entertainment agency Byte Entertainment.
Jon lost his father to suicide as a teenager. After starting his first job Jon was sectioned and admitted to hospital with stress and depression. Luckily, Jon was able to get the right help and returned to work a year later.
However, Jon decided not to tell anyone about his illness for nearly 20 years due to the stigma and affect it would have on his career and friendships.
It was sadly after the suicide of a close friend due to postnatal depression in 2016 that Jon decided he had to speak out.
Jon couldn’t have picked a more public platform to speak out when he spoke alongside the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry as part of the Heads Together mental health campaign.
Jon has since gone on to be one of the directors of the Speakers Collective, challenging stigma and facilitating important conversations. Co-produce What’s Going On In Your Head exploring the secret inner workings of the mind through performance art and discussion. A trustee for Let’s Talk About Loss a charity for young people who have been bereaved, Co-Chair Time to Change Waltham Forest and a mentor for The House of St Barnabas Soho, employment academy to break the cycle of homelessness.
In 2022, Jon will be attempting several running challenges building up to the New York Marathon raising awareness, funding, and research into mental health support.
Jon lives in London, a proud Dad and speaks openly about mental health in the hope it will help others and save lives.
Mental Health Initiatives
www.whatsgoingoninyourhead.org - Co-founder, live performance and discussion
www.jonandjohn.run - Running for Mental Health and New York Marathon 2022
www.speakerscollective.org – Co-CEO, Lived experience community and social enterprise
www.letstalkaboutloss.org - Trustee, Supporting 18-35 year olds who have been bereaved
www.wf-timetochange.co.uk Co-Chair & Champion Time to Change Waltham Forest
www.hosb.org.uk/mentoring - Mentor, The House of St Barnabas Homeless Employment Academy
www.talkitoutmusic.com Exec Producer, mental health music project bringing people together

Website Social Media Accounts
www.linkedin.com/in/jcsalmon
www.twitter.com/jonsalmon
www.instagram.com/j0nsalmon
www.jon-salmon.com
www.metro.co.uk/author/jon-salmon-for-metro-co-uk

Byte Entertainment
www.byteentertainment.com

Schizophrenia - The Voices in My Head

SCHIZOPHRENIA, THE VOICES IN MY HEAD, was nominated for Best Single Documentary award in the Celtic Media Festival, Best Director & Best Factual Documentary in the IFTAs (Irish Film and Television Awards) and best documentary of the year by The Irish Times.

The film tells the stories of six young people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, all determined to get on with life and fight against the huge stigma associated with it. The interviewees share their experience of hearing voices, of paranoia and delusions and of living with the stigma of a condition that is still largely misunderstood by most of the population.

“I knew very little about the condition when we started out, it’s a complex subject matter. I feel we’ve done the contributors justice and hope this documentary will open people’s eyes to the fact that there are different types of schizophrenia, not everyone with a diagnosis will experience the same symptoms, challenges or successes as our contributors but hopefully their experiences will help shed some light on a condition that still carries huge stigma. We’ve come a long way in how we deal with and speak about mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, schizophrenia sometimes feels like the last frontier and these six contributors have shown extraordinary bravery in agreeing to take part.” Kim Bartley, Director.

Directed by Kim Bartley, Produced by Aoife Kavanagh, Edited by Paul Mullen

Adrian McCarthy

Adrian McCarthy is the owner of Curious Dog Films which was established in late 2019. He has been making documentaries for over twenty years and was previously the co-owner of Wildfire Films. A multi-award winning producer/director, he has made over fifty hours of television and feature docs for national and international broadcasters and funders like RTE, Screen Ireland, BAI, TG4, Channel 4, BBC Four, Virgin Media, Setanta, ARTE Germany, YLE Finland, SBS Australia and The History Channel.

Adrian’s work covers a broad range of subjects across the arts, sport, politics, music, comedy, social issues, mental health and the ups and downs of life.

Some of his documentaries include: the IFTA winning ‘ROUGH RIDER’ film, on controversial journalist and former pro-cyclist, Paul Kimmage. It was described as ‘Remarkable. A superb film, a sad story of unrequited love‘ by The Sunday Independent and ‘Excellently paced, well-crafted and beautifully filmed‘ by the Irish Times. The IFTA nominated, ‘PORTRAIT OF A GALLERY’ was filmed over three years inside the walls of National Gallery of Ireland. The Irish Times described it as ‘a brilliant piece of art criticism. In this documentary, the National Gallery gets a depiction worthy of its renovation‘. Adrian produced the highly acclaimed ‘ANTHONY FOLEY – MUNSTERMAN’ on the story of the sudden death of the Munster rugby coach; ‘A moving and uplifting documentary. A poignant tribute’ – Sunday Times. His IFTA winning ‘HIDDEN IMPACT – Rugby and Concussion’ was described as ‘an excellent documentary making for deeply unsettling yet essential viewing‘ by The Irish Times. After his documentary ‘GRAHAM LINEHAN – FUNNY BUSINESS‘, The Irish Times said ‘A cracking profile. It was as assured an hour of television as you’re likely to see all year. Although it’s no surprise given it was the work of Adrian McCarthy. And ‘SMALL FAR AWAY – THE WORLD OF FATHER TED‘ for Channel 4, was nominated for an IFTA, given five stars and described as ‘Lovely Stuff’ by Time Out, London.

Sanctioned

It's not just Harvey Weinstein. Approximately 85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales every year, and there are far more that go unreported.

The UK's society has placed a taboo on people speaking out about rape and its aftermath, by silencing/blaming victims and excusing the offender.

SANCTIONED follows Jessica Tasmin's journey in regaining her body through pagan rituals, life modelling and the way she chose to present herself, after being raped.

This film explores her body and aesthetic image as she narrates, commenting on the mental aftermath of sexual trauma and how Jess feels that our society can sometimes sympathise with the perpetrator.

Trigger waring: sexual trauma & nudity

A Wake

After their Mother's death, two grieving sisters argue about what to do with their families pub.

Nominated for Best under 25s at Underwire 2022

Trigger warning: deals with alcohol addiction, grief & suicide

The Guinness Girl

Two scenes from "The Guinness Girl", A play written by Maria McAteer. The Guinness Girl is the true story of a young girl of Irish and Caribbean heritage growing up In Newcastle in the 70's. The play follows her journey, how she Irish danced though the prejudice around her and eventually found herself. Performed by Maria McAteer, Karen Spicer and accompanied by Jimmy Page.

Dominique Murphy - de Neef

Dominique has a Master of Arts with Merit in Documentary Practice from the University of Creative Arts, Farnham. She won the Personal Narrative Award at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival for her emotionally challenging documentary SANCTIONED. She is the Creative Director of Silver Mountain Productions, Head of Marketing for female empowering social enterprise, Wise Women, as well as being the content creator, resident film maker and photographer for a number or organisations in the UK. She is also the drum & bass DJ under her stage name Pinks.

Emma J. Gilbertson

Emma J. Gilbertson is a writer/director from Liverpool working in film, television and music videos. They are represented by the Independent Talent Group and are currently developing several original feature ideas. They are primarily interested in creating stories about the working-class experience, female identity and queerness. Their films also feature dance, music and spoken word. Growing up in Liverpool has given them a unique sense of humour and perspective and Emma currently resides above a pub with a cat named Roxy.

Kim Halliday

Kim is an award winning media composer & musician working in London. His music is an evolving and revolving mixture of trip hop, reggae and film noir, designed to comfort and disturb in equal measure. His scores have encompassed horror, comedy, drama, musicals and child birth, while his albums have been described as “Sonic Youth meets Bernard Herrmann” and “Face-Bashing All-Out Guitar Assault”.

On I Am Gen Z, Kim's role involved writing the score, writing some songs, and curating music from emerging artists for the soundtrack. His latest releases are geo-located audio tours for Bristol and Bath, which Kim has written, scored and directed. His production company Unpleasantville is now developing further immersive mixed reality events and a 360º installation piece.

www.kimhalliday.com
www.unpleasantville.com
Instagram:
@kimhallidaymusic
@unpleasantvilleuk

Peter Curran

This year’s Festival Presenter will be Peter Curran, the Irish BBC Radio 4 broadcaster, writer & documentary maker.

Peter has produced and directed many UK projects on Irish history, language and culture for institutions such as The Imperial War Museum and the BBC, including The Past is a Foreign Country; Collecting the Troubles; The Hidden History of Irish Place Names. He is co-host of the BBC Sounds comedy podcast, Bunk Bed

Our Kids Our Lives

Suicide is the biggest killer of young people in the UK. With over 50% of mental health issues established by the age of 14 and 1 in 4 school children self-harming.


In this feature length documentary Ben Akers, talks to parents, kids and experts and looks for solutions on how we can help out kids become mentally strong.

He tries to discover what we can do to help our next generation. From body image to self-harm and societal pressures in our expanding digital world.

Ben explores the power of talking, because if we get this right, we can help young people manage their mental health not just for today but for generations to come.

Because our kids are our future. Our Kids Our Lives.

TRIGGER WARNING: deals with suicide, self-harm, eating disorders

OCD AND ME by Adrian Mccarthy

52-minute documentary film

An intriguing insight into a condition that many of us share to some degree - Irish Independent.

An incredibly powerful documentary – The Saturday Night Show.

Most people have heard of OCD but what exactly is obsessive compulsive disorder? It affects between 2-3% of the population and presents itself in many unusual guises. People are often surprised to learn that OCD goes far beyond the common perception of excessive hand washing or the repetitive checking of light switches.
OCD is an extreme anxiety-related condition where a person experiences frequent, intrusive, and unwelcome obsessive thoughts, often followed by repetitive compulsions, impulses, or urges.
To get an understanding of this disturbing mental illness we spend time with some people who have agreed to come forward and talk about their OCD. We also feature experts in the field and an anxiety support groups in the west of Ireland.
Jacob is a 25-year-old Dublin artist whose daily existence is dominated by his battle with severe contamination OCD where he views himself as ‘OCD clean’ and most of the world as ‘OCD dirty’. Jacob gets frustrated with the lack of awareness of this disorder and throw away phrases like ‘a little bit OCD’ which make a joke of this mental illness. His mother, Mella, also lives with her own form of OCD. Mella gives us a unique perspective, not only as a parent of a son who is unable to touch her, but also as someone who has lived with her own OCD since youth.
Eileen, in her 60’s, lives in Sligo town and is part of a local anxiety support group. She has lived with her OCD for the last 50 years and says it has destroyed her life. She hopes sharing her story might stop others from going through the same hell. Her OCD has come in many forms, hand washing, praying, folding clothes etc. If she does certain rituals, she believes it will prevent terrible things from happening to people in her family. We spend time at home with Eileen and get exclusive access to the weekly support group where Eileen and others talk openly about this sometimes-embarrassing disorder.
Simon is a highly functional 32-year-old Dubliner who works for a prominent Dublin radio station. He has lived with a variety of forms of OCD and has started talking openly about the condition in recent months. Simon brings us to his old school, back to a street where he was convinced, he had caused a road accident and to St Patrick’s Hospital where his life was transformed.
OCD is the third most common concern reported to St Patrick’s mental-health support services in Ireland and The World Health Organisation lists it as one of the 10 most debilitating illnesses on the planet. OCD and Me gives us a greater understanding of this secretive and often misunderstood condition.

Producer/Director: Adrian McCarthy
Editor: Brenda Morrissey
DoP: Eleanor Bowman
Ass Producer: Zlata Filipovic
Exec Producer RTÉ: Niamh O’Connor
Exec Producer: Martha O’Neill
Sound: Sue Downey

A Wildfire Films Production for RTÉ.

THE GUINNESS GIRL

Two scenes from "The Guinness Girl", the one woman play written by Maria McAteer. The Guinness Girl is the true story of a young girl of Irish and Caribbean heritage growing up In Newcastle in the 70's. The play follows her journey, how she Irish danced though the prejudice around her and eventually found herself. Performed by Maria McAteer and accompanied by Alice Beadle on the violin.

What's Going On In Your Head? Be The Light

A stigma-busting audio-visual film from What’s Going On In Your Head? produced by Jon Salmon and edited by Liz Smith. Featuring performances from artists including Shocka, SK Shlomo, Hyphen, Daragh Fleming, The Castell Brothers and mental health advocates Jonny Benjamin MBE, Emi Howe, Jake Mills, Angela Samata, Finlay Games and Jo-Anna Sell. For more information and other projects visit - www.whatsgoingoninyourhead.org.A stigma-busting audio-visual film from What’s Going On In Your Head? produced by Jon Salmon and edited by Liz Smith. Featuring performances from artists including Shocka, SK Shlomo, Hyphen, Daragh Fleming, The Castell Brothers and mental health advocates Jonny Benjamin MBE, Emi Howe, Jake Mills, Angela Samata, Finlay Games and Jo-Anna Sell. For more information and other projects visit - www.whatsgoingoninyourhead.org.

SCHIZOPHRENIA: THE VOICES IN MY HEAD by Kim Bartley

SCHIZOPHRENIA, THE VOICES IN MY HEAD, was nominated for Best Single Documentary award in the Celtic Media Festival, Best Director & Best Factual Documentary in the IFTAs (Irish Film and Television Awards) and best documentary of the year by The Irish Times.

The film tells the stories of six young people living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, all determined to get on with life and fight against the huge stigma associated with it. The interviewees share their experience of hearing voices, of paranoia and delusions and of living with the stigma of a condition that is still largely misunderstood by most of the population.

“I knew very little about the condition when we started out, it’s a complex subject matter. I feel we’ve done the contributors justice and hope this documentary will open people’s eyes to the fact that there are different types of schizophrenia, not everyone with a diagnosis will experience the same symptoms, challenges or successes as our contributors but hopefully their experiences will help shed some light on a condition that still carries huge stigma. We’ve come a long way in how we deal with and speak about mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, schizophrenia sometimes feels like the last frontier and these six contributors have shown extraordinary bravery in agreeing to take part.” Kim Bartley, Director.

Directed by Kim Bartley, Produced by Aoife Kavanagh, Edited by Paul Mullen

Wendy Young

Wendy Young is a published poet/performer who cut her teeth with Survivors Poetry and had her first elated experience of two poems published in South Bank Poetry in 2013. Latest venture is as a presenter on local K2K Radio playing interesting varied music and interviewing fellow poets and writers and people who silently contribute to making life a better place.

Say Something

Made during lock down as a collaboration between the contributor Niamh age 17 at the time and director Maddie, it explores her journey through alcohol dependence and mental ill health while navigating school.

Niamh’s message of hope and healing is a call out to other young people to ask for help if they are struggling.

TRIGGER WARNING: deals with alcohol dependence

Maddie Kitchen FRSA

Maddie is a lived experience Producer/Director and fellow of the Royal Society for Arts. Nominated for her:

‘Use of film to advocate for diverse and inclusive mental health and addiction recovery’

She set up Sobriety Films UK as a non profit social enterprise in 2019 to champion recovery in those suffering from addiction, mental I’ll health & trauma.

SFUK make films, run recovery filmmaking workshops and hold special event screenings with Q&A’s.

www.sobrietyfilms.com

Sacha Wood

Sacha Wood is an English-Irish singer-songwriter and freelance musician. Her songs often deal with mental health, using playful lyrics and nostalgic music to evoke experiences of depression and dissociation. Her latest album, Catharsis, centres on the healing power of music as a space for vulnerability, connection and transformation, and she is delighted that some of these songs get to play a part in the conversation at SHOUT London. Sacha is also a volunteer with Unreal UK, a charity for those living with DPDR (Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder).

Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder Chat

Sacha and Maria chat with Peter Curran about DPDR (Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder)

Sacha Wood is an English-Irish singer-songwriter and freelance musician. Her songs often deal with mental health, using playful lyrics and nostalgic music to evoke experiences of depression and dissociation. Her latest album, Catharsis, centres on the healing power of music as a space for vulnerability, connection and transformation, and she is delighted that some of these songs get to play a part in the conversation at SHOUT London. Sacha is also a volunteer with Unreal UK, a charity for those living with DPDR (Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder).

Ronald Amanze

Ronald Amanze, the founder of Talk Dementia, is a Dementia Champion with the Alzheimer’s Society, a Dementia Diarist with DEEP and an Ambassador for The Stroke Association, working to ensure there is better provision for the wider sections of our communities in dementia service and dementia research. His background as a music producer and musician has led him to be passionate about the role of creativity in improving the quality-of-life experience for all those living with dementia.

Disordered

Having moved away from home to attend medical school,
Rebecca’s plans to start a new life are interrupted when she
becomes aware that her younger sister is battling with an eating
disorder. Rebecca returns home and struggles along with the
rest of the family to try and beat the disorder.
The family are put under increasing pressure as Emily continues
to get worse. Having to rally around Emily, whose illness is trying
it’s hardest to push them away. Rebecca gradually begins to
understand what her sister is battling and the family come
together to face their darkest hour.

Joshua Nunn

Joshua is a natural musician with a flair for composing, playing, and lyric writing as well as turning his hand to poetry. With his eyes set on Film Direction, Script Writing and Comedic Acting, he takes pride in being able to speak up, offering valuable insight with creativity or logical thought process with a fresh approach to solution finding.

Neurodivergence discussion on ADHD & PTSD

Dominique has a Master of Arts with Merit in Documentary Practice from the University of Creative Arts, Farnham. She won the Personal Narrative Award at the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival for her emotionally challenging documentary SANCTIONED. She is the Creative Director of Silver Mountain Productions, Head of Marketing for female empowering social enterprise, Wise Women, as well as being the content creator, resident film maker and photographer for a number or organisations in the UK. She is also the drum & bass DJ under her stage name Pinks.

Joshua is a natural musician with a flair for composing, playing, and lyric writing as well as turning his hand to poetry. With his eyes set on Film Direction, Script Writing and Comedic Acting, he takes pride in being able to speak up, offering valuable insight with creativity or logical thought process with a fresh approach to solution finding.

Janet Reeve

Janet Reeve is delighted to be part of the first SHOUT festival with a reading of the title poem from her collection – MAKE IT OKAY. Her quirky verse charts the joy, depression, pain, frivolity, greed, confusion and passion of a heart determined to remain open to love. In 2015, Janet’s novel The Shark Party, an artworld thriller, was called ‘A brave, enthralling first book’ for highlighting intimate partner violence before #MeToo was born. Find @janetreevewarrior on IG and glimpse the nature images that fire her imagination.

A discussion on Neurodiversity, Creativity and Mental Health with Neil Avery & Jon Salmon

A discussion on Neurodiversity, Creativity and Mental Health following the screening of the Talk It Out music video by Neil Avery and Nigel Planer.

Neil Avery

Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia about 5 years ago. His diagnosis came from his daughter’s diagnosis, and he told us that as he was reading her notes he realised “that’s me!”

Jon Salmon

Jon is an award-winning video producer, a digital pioneer, co-founder of branded entertainment agency Byte Entertainment and Co-CEO of the Speakers Collective. While Jon talks openly about his mental health he has only recently disclosed his dyslexia diagnosis due to the stigma and misunderstanding of the diagnosis.

Sean Kaluarachchi

A discussion with Sean Kaluarachchi who works in the London Irish Centre’s Survivors Integrated Service, his remit is in supporting survivors of Mother & Baby and County Homes in advance of the upcoming redress scheme, and he runs a freephone response line that covers the UK. He will discuss his work with the survivor community, along with some of his own personal understanding of trauma and abuse. Sean is also a practicing musician, who has played for a number of years around London, Liverpool and his home city of Belfast.

Sacha Wood

Sacha Wood is an English-Irish singer-songwriter and freelance musician. Her songs often deal with mental health, using playful lyrics and nostalgic music to evoke experiences of depression and dissociation. Her latest album, Catharsis, centres on the healing power of music as a space for vulnerability, connection and transformation, and she is delighted that some of these songs get to play a part in the conversation at SHOUT London. Sacha is also a volunteer with Unreal UK, a charity for those living with DPDR (Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder).

Q&A Jon Salmon, Angela Samata, Jane Boland, Neil Avery

Jon Salmon is an award-winning executive producer, mental health campaigner, Co-CEO of Speakers Collective and producer of What's Going On In Your Head?

Angela Samata is an arts professional, mental health speaker, Churchill Fellow and the presenter of BBC1's award-winning ‘Life After Suicide.’

Jane Boland has been the suicide prevention lead at NHS Merseyside Care, and now working as the Clinical Lead for James' Place, a suicide prevention charity.

Neil Avery is a financial partner who advises some of the most prominent figures in Music, Theatre, Television, and Entertainment during the day, while pursuing his passion as a singer-songwriter by night.

Nicola A. Waddell

As a Show Runner and Executive Producer, Waddell has produced and directed feature length specials, documentaries, studio talk shows and factual entertainment series from Jonathan Ross to How to Cheat at Athens for Channel Four UK, BBC, ITV, SKY, Discovery (US), CNBC (US & EMEA), Nat Geo (US), MTV Italia, S4C Sweden, Canal Plus, Channel 9 Australia. Over the years her experience has included developing projects, securing co-productions and producing teams worldwide, spearheading productions in USA, India, North Africa, Spain, Italy and Australia. She is currently concentrating on scripted projects and brand-led content for international Broadcast through Boxty Films. She has been a committee member for Edinburgh International TV Festival, completing training with an SAS Survival Team and is a graduate of the Robert McKee Scriptwriting course. Waddell also Mentors for Women Breaking Barriers (NI), Production Trainees for Grand Scheme Media and volunteers with The Mix (mental health charity for young people).

Katy Evans

Katy Evans is a recent Fine Art graduate from Liverpool Hope University. She communicates her experiences of mental illness through the medium of acrylic paint, with her style largely focusing on distorted figuration. In combination with elements of text, she approaches her practice in an unfiltered, authentic manner.

Katie Thomas

Poetically, Katie Thomas is an articulate individual, who uses poetic structure to evoke otherwise difficult discussions. She began writing as an emotional outlet, which later grew into a passion, allowing her to express emotions, and thoughts, with little negative repercussions. She is an aspiring poet, and teacher, who uses her skills to inspire, and engage other people. She wants to use her poetic skills to intellectually express herself, and ensure discussions are held. She is passionate, emotional, and confident in her abilities to inspire change through poetry.

Neil Avery

Neil was diagnosed with dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia about 5 years ago. His diagnosis came from his daughter’s diagnosis, and he told us that as he was reading her notes he realised “that’s me!”

Ronald Amanze

Ronald Amanze, the founder of Talk Dementia, is a Dementia Champion with the Alzheimer’s Society, a Dementia Diarist with DEEP and an Ambassador for The Stroke Association, working to ensure there is better provision for the wider sections of our communities in dementia service and dementia research. His background as a music producer and musician has led him to be passionate about the role of creativity in improving the quality-of-life experience for all those living with dementia.

BIPOLAR ME by Ceri Ashe

Ceri Ashe is a Welsh actor, playwright and founder of Popty Ping Productions theatre company, who shine a light on stories that often go unheard. Ceri specialises in verbatim theatre which uses real peoples words to tell a story.

Ceri is also a mental health advocate for bipolar and through her work with the charity Bipolar UK and her play ‘Bipolar Me’ (which is based on her experience of being diagnosed with the condition in her late twenties) she is passionate about using her platform as a creative to dispel the stigma that still exists around mental illness.

‘Bipolar me’ is a truthful, dark comedy. From the highs of a festival, to the depths of depression; this punchy, enlightening and moving show takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and shines a light on a still much misunderstood condition.

Sydney Abubakarr Foday Conteh

Sydney is the founder of Thando Writing.

Thando writing is a writing organisation that strives to increase participation in literature, founded by the poet and author Sydney Conteh.

The main goal for Thando Writing is to inspire a love for writing, whenever that may be poetry, short stories and more; Thando Writing aspires to introduce more people into the publishing world, as everyone has a message and the voice of those people should be listened and be expressed freely.

Thando Writing works closely with schools and other organisations from all around the world to directly run workshops (online and in person).

Private workshops are also available.

I have a deep knowledge of youth work and my goal as a writer is to inspire the next generation of writers, with your help I believe I can achieve this big goal.

To learn more about my work see my portfolio below.

Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/thandowritting

HOSTAGE TO MY THOUGHTS

Hostage to my Thoughts is a result of a music, film and public health collaboration between Gambian Artist Nazeem, Liverpool Artist Ali Horn and, Liverpool-based companies Brightmoon Media and Capacity Development International.

We all have mental health, and we experience it in different ways. Nazeem wrote this song in the Gambia to help him deal with his own mental health and to let "other people know they are not alone". He later recorded the song in Liverpool with fellow musician Ali Horn who shared the sentiment and emotion in the track. The lyrics of the song, openly describe feelings of loneliness, mental entrapment and anxiety and the need for a listening ear, kindness, and compassion. We know that men are less likely to talk about their mental health or seek help; we believe that raising awareness of mental health through music and video could be particularly effective in engaging men in Liverpool and beyond. The video has been shared with public health practitioners and mental health charities across Cheshire and Merseyside to help amplify Nazeem’s message.

Songwriter: Nazeem
Vocals & guitar: Nazeem & Ali Horn
Lyrics: Nazeem & Dr Vicki Doyle
Music Video: Directed & edited by Roger Appleton, produced by Dr Vicki Doyle
YouTube: https://youtu.be/djgzwXa_OK0

Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones

Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones is a performer, choreographer and producer originally from Serbia but now based in Wales. Her project “Lullaby for Mother” is supported by Arts Council Wales, JOMEC, SPARCS, YMa and PONTIO.
Aleksandra is founder of Gravida Collective arts development agency enabling mother artists to continue to live creative lives.

Join us to explore selection of dance pieces from Lullaby for Mother followed by a Q&A.

Choreography: Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones
Dramaturgy: Jelena Vuksanovic
Music: Dan Swain

Marigold Lately

Marigold Lately was born in the late Autumn of 2022 after a gestation period of more than 50 years. Since her birth she has performed at over 100 comedy and spoken word events throughout the UK.

Sharing sometimes sorrowful, sometimes snarling tales and often surreal, comic commentary from someone ‘stuck on a pin’, wriggling, who is willing to share it.

Marigold is viciously gentle – straddling genres but never sitting on the fence.

She recently made her stage debut in her one-woman sell-out show 'Dirty Old Town' in November 23 at the Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool.

Veena Storm V

Veena Storm V will be bringing the vibrant energy of Bollywood to the stage in an unforgettable dance performance!
Later, Veena will join us for a heartfelt discussion on coping with grief, sharing her unique insights and journey. Don’t miss this powerful mix of movement and meaningful conversation as we come together to explore healing and resilience.

Dancer, Choreographer, Teacher, Veena, will open the event with a performance of her Bollywood Dancing. She will talk about her philosophy around grief and mental health. She lost two close family members recently, including her husband suddenly who was in his prime and uses dance and movement to deal with her grief. Through dance and movement she also supports and empowers women, especially older women, ensuring they allow themselves to deal with their emotions and mental health through dance and movement.

FALLING UPWARDS

Director Maria McAteer suffered from Depersonalisation Derealisation Disorder as a child and commented: “ D.D.D. is such a rare mental health condition, I felt it import to share my experience in this film, in the hope that others suffering may realise they are not alone. Also I hope the film helps to educate others who may have friends or relatives dealing with D. D. D. Especially parents as it's something that usually starts in adolescent years.”

Sacha Wood

Sacha Wood is an English-Irish singer-songwriter and freelance musician. Her songs often deal with mental health, using playful lyrics and nostalgic music to evoke experiences of depression and dissociation. Her latest album, Catharsis, centres on the healing power of music as a space for vulnerability, connection and transformation, and she is delighted that some of these songs get to play a part in the conversation at SHOUT London. Sacha is also a volunteer with Unreal UK, a charity for those living with DPDR (Depersonalisation and Derealisation Disorder).

Sydney Conteh

Sydney is the founder of Thando Writing.

Thando writing is a writing organisation that strives to increase participation in literature, founded by the poet and author Sydney Conteh.

The main goal for Thando Writing is to inspire a love for writing, whenever that may be poetry, short stories and more; Thando Writing aspires to introduce more people into the publishing world, as everyone has a message and the voice of those people should be listened and be expressed freely.

Thando Writing works closely with schools and other organisations from all around the world to directly run workshops (online and in person).

Private workshops are also available.

I have a deep knowledge of youth work and my goal as a writer is to inspire the next generation of writers, with your help I believe I can achieve this big goal.

To learn more about my work see my portfolio below.

Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/thandowritting

Marigold Lately

Marigold Lately was born in the late Autumn of 2022 after a gestation period of more than 50 years. Since her birth she has performed at over 100 comedy and spoken word events throughout the UK.

Sharing sometimes sorrowful, sometimes snarling tales and often surreal, comic commentary from someone ‘stuck on a pin’, wriggling, who is willing to share it.

Marigold is viciously gentle – straddling genres but never sitting on the fence.

She recently made her stage debut in her one-woman sell-out show 'Dirty Old Town' in November 23 at the Hope Street Theatre, Liverpool.

Kitty Churchfield

Expect blends of UK pop, soul, spoken word and r&b with a modern cabaret twist. Trained with the help of Central Saint Martins, Lisa Lashes School of Music, WAC arts, and London's Warehouse Scene, Kitty's songs come from real-life experiences with mental health, London living, feminine rage and toxic relationships in the hopes of healing from the past and reaching out to those with similar experiences.

Dia Tuncer

Poet, playwright & blogger, Dia Tuncer will read her poetry. Dia has published her first collection of poetry; From My Father’s Noose and is currently working on the publication of the second collection, She is simultaneously working on bringing her first play, Wood Green to life, whilst working on converting her blog, Dia’log, to a podcast.

Becky!

Becky is queer and neurodivergent, and writes and performs songs and discussions surrounding this in her set. She is also physically disabled (Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome) and has performed songs/spoken word pieces about her battle with anorexia.

KNUCK KNUCKLE

Frank McCarthy, a music and visual artist who is also a Traveller, came up with the idea of Paint Punch, a technique that allows participants punch paint onto boards to create art work. The process is hugely popular with young boys in particular and features in the film Knuck & Knuckle.
While Paint Punch features as part of the backdrop, the film tells the story of Lee Reeves, internationally acclaimed boxer, from one of Limerick’s socio-economically deprived areas. Lee’s story resonates with many young males, particularly those struggling with grief and associated mental health issues. Directed by Ellie Marron & Sean Horgan

THE EDGE OF CHAOS

A functioning alcoholic attempts to blackmail her well respected and wealthy Father Derek over his corrupt business dealings but things don’t go to plan. In an attempt to keep control over his family and save himself, ​Patriarch Derek constructs a calculated intervention for Carrie, bringing the whole family together for the first time in years.​ The film won Best Drama Award at tge British Independent Film Awards, Bristol and the Best Acting in a Female Role Award at The Richard Harris International Film Festival.

Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones

Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones is a performer, choreographer and producer originally from Serbia but now based in Wales. Her project “Lullaby for Mother” is supported by Arts Council Wales, JOMEC, SPARCS, YMa and PONTIO.
Aleksandra is founder of Gravida Collective arts development agency enabling mother artists to continue to live creative lives.

Join us to explore selection of dance pieces from Lullaby for Mother followed by a Q&A.

Choreography: Aleksandra Nikolajev Jones
Dramaturgy: Jelena Vuksanovic
Music: Dan Swain

Black People Don't Get Depressed

Black People Don’t Get Depressed A poetic exploration of mental health issues among creatives in communities on the African continent and in the diaspora, exploring myths, stigma and solutions through the personal stories of the characters

Unspoken

Acclaimed Irish filmmaker, Alan Bradley, takes a first hand look at eating disorders in Irish men, and examines the failures in the public healthcare system in dealing with the issue.

Emily Bell

Emily is a singer songwriter and self-taught guitarist, who has explored themes of mental health in her work. She is classically trained on the violin under Dennis Simons, and now plays her own string arrangements of songs by artists such as Joni Mitchell on her YouTube Channel @Emily_Bell