What is the Mental Health Minute, when is it and how to listen to it?

Today marks the start of Mental Health Awareness Week.

It will run from 13 to 19 May and will see businesses, organisations, charities and the media sharing helpful information around mental health.

As part of the event, radio networks have put together the annual Mental Health Minute.

The message will be broadcast today (13 May) and includes famous voices such as Prince William, The Duke of Cambridge, Stephen Fry and Jameela Jamil.

What is the Mental Health Minute?

Radio stations across the UK will unite in one collaborative act: to encourage and support conversation around mental health.

There’s long been a stigma attached to talking about mental health, though it has lessened in recent years, largely thanks to information becoming more widely available.

The theme behind this year’s minute is ‘the importance of listening, and the difference we can make to someone when we take the time to stop and to listen’.

Led by The Duke of Cambridge and the industry body, Radiocentre, the Mental Health Minute will be broadcast across hundreds of radio stations, including BBC Radio 1, Radio 2 and 5 Live, as well as networks including Global, Bauer and Wireless and smaller community stations.

The 60-second-long message, which was created by TBI media, includes the voice of Prince William (who also did the first one in 2018), as well as comedian and author Stephen Fry, actress and TV personality Jameela Jamil, and singers Katy Perry and Alesha Dixon.

Last year, the minute featured Lady Gaga, Dame Judi Dench, David Harewood and Dame Jessica Ennis.

It reached over 20 million people, but that figure is anticipated to be even higher in 2019, as local BBC stations will also join in for the first time.

A campaign called Shout was also launched last week, a 24/7 service that aims to find 3,000 volunteers to support people with mental health problems through text messages.

When is the Mental Health Minute and how to listen to it?

The Mental Health Minute will be broadcast at 10.59am this morning.

To listen in, simply switch on your radio.