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. 

Follow @livelymindspod on X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and more at https://www.bio.link/livelyminds

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