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Be;Live brings together not only professionals and specialists but also those with lived experiences, who have survived serious adversity, to share their stories, support and advice in order to change the way we all see mental health.

Be;Live will explore the many different ways in which we can take care of our own mental health as well as the mental health of those around us and will give people across the UK the support, knowledge and tools to take the first steps in creating positive mental health.

Be;Live is an event for everyone, brought to you by a team of everyday people who are passionate about supporting others with their mental health.

Any why? Because we are on a mission to help reduce the UK’s negative mental health statistics by EDUCATING, INSPIRING and EMPOWERING as many people as we can on the topic of mental health and recovery.

OUR FIRST LIVE EVENT

On the 2nd April 2022, Be;Live had its first live event in the center of Birmingham (the heart of the UK), hosted by former Blue Peter and Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas.

Author, Podcaster and Speaker

Simon Thomas

Simon is an author, podcaster and speaker on mental health and how to deal with life’s biggest interruptions.

Once upon a time a presenter for six years on the good ship Blue Peter, and twelve years a presenter for Sky Sports Football League and Premier League coverage. In 2017 Simon’s life fell apart as he suffered acute mental health struggles after his first wife died very suddenly. Now Simon is an author, podcaster and speaker on mental health and how to deal with life’s biggest interruptions.

What does mental health mean to Simon?

Mental health affects everything. When it suffers as mine did in 2017, it affected how I thought, felt and acted. Everything that once felt possible now felt impossible.

What makes Simon feel alive?

Anything that shoves me out of my comfort zone, whether that’s jumping out of a plane or presenting a cup final at Wembley - that surge of adrenaline is unbeatable.
Resilience Coach

Josh Connolly

Josh is a resilience coach with an incredible story and is one of the most impactful and inspiring public speakers in the UK today.

Josh is a resilience coach with an incredible story and is one of the most impactful and inspiring public speakers in the UK today. He inspires the toughest crowds in the most unlikely of places; from boxing rings to military bases; from fire stations to construction sites and has worked with global brands such as Dyson, Intel, Levi’s and Hollyoaks.

Josh's Talk

Josh will explore his own story of trauma and addiction to help you reflect on your own experiences and leave with a fresh understanding of emotional resilience. The underlying message in Josh’s talk is validation. Validating one’s feelings whatever the feelings are. This is the opposite of denial, resistance and shame. Once we can be with our true feelings we can build on our internal strengths.

What does mental health mean to Josh?

It is a part of my overall health and something that I need to create space for on a regular basis

What makes Josh feel alive?

Creating spaces for people to feel safe to explore their true selves.

What does Josh want you to take away from his talk?

A fresh understanding of who they are and what it really means to have emotional resilience
Co-Founder / COO of Wellity Global

Sadie Restorick

Sadie is Co-Founder / COO of Wellity Global, the Co-Founder of the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards and Great British Businesswoman of The Year Finalist 2021.

Sadie is Co-Founder / COO of Wellity Global, the Co-Founder of the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards and Great British Businesswoman of The Year Finalist 2021. A global speaker, consultant, trainer, author and published academic scholar, Sadie has specialised in the field of workplace wellbeing and psychosocial risk management for over a decade and has a range of qualifications including an MSc with Distinction in Workplace Health and Wellbeing.

Sadie's Talk

This talk with be a thought-provoking session to inspire, educate and enlighten attendees about mental health issues amongst high functioning individuals, and how so many people feel the pressure of portraying an illusion of perfection and endure the exhaustion of living an emotional lie. The session will shatter the misconceptions of success and demonstrate that compassion, connection and courage are the three essential components for living an authentic life without compromise and without masking the truth.

What does mental health mean to you?

A person-centred holistic approach to managing our energy and prioritising our most important asset, which is our mind.

What makes Sadie feel alive?

Making a difference to the working community and fulfilling her passion to make a true difference on a global scale

What does Sadie want you to take away from her talk?

To truly understand the nature and impact of high functioning mental ill health and how to be more compassionate to the self and others, particularly those who may appear “successful”, either personally or professionally.
Championing Youth Minds

Tanya Marwaha

Tanya is a university student who decided to pioneer youth mental health awareness during the pandemic from her bedroom.

Tanya is a university student who decided to pioneer youth mental health awareness during the pandemic from her bedroom. Championing Youth Minds has been providing free online resources, workshops and a safe space to over 400 young people across the UK and internationally.

Tanya's Talk

This talk will be focused on the mental health crisis amongst our youth, especially the struggles of students. As it is being delivered by a student working with hundreds of youth around the UK, you will better understand the challenges facing students and the solutions we need to work together to deliver. The world of education is very different to how it previously was, with more pressure and expectations for students, therefore we need to collaborate to create a safe and supportive environment for them to learn and thrive in.

What does mental health mean to Tanya?

Mental health to me is what connects every human being to each other, no matter how individually different we are, we all have mental health in common. Mental health intersects every and all aspects of our lives, therefore it is one of the most important factors of my wellbeing and day to day routine.

What makes Tanya feel alive?

Sharing my experiences, talking about the two things I am passionate about the most, mental health and disability, is what makes me feel the most alive. These are what I call my comfort zones, I feel every emotion when talking out loud about these, am able to tap into my inner feelings and connect with others from that.

What does Tanya want you to take away from her talk?

I want people to be able to take away knowledge they can implement in their daily life, be it through available support or self-help tips that they may wish to use. I want people to see the beam of hope that we have when we work together and support young people. That hope is our greatest strength, so that's what I truly want them to take home after the evening.
Former Premier League football player

Clarke Carlisle

Clarke is one of the most eloquent speakers on the scene today with an incredibly moving and inspiring story to tell.

Former Premier League football player Clarke Carlisle has worked for Absolute Radio and as a commentator for ITV Sport across their FA Cup and Europa League coverage. Clarke was also a part of the team that covered the World Cup from Brazil.Having previously won Britain's Brainiest football player Clarke is one of the most eloquent speakers on the scene today with an incredibly moving and inspiring story to tell. Publicly discussing his mental health struggles and attempted suicide has put Clarke in a position of influence to aid the breakdown of the stigma around the subject.
Beyond

Jonny Benjamin MBE

Jonny Benjamin MBE is an award-winning mental health campaigner, film producer, public speaker, writer and vlogger.

Jonny Benjamin MBE is an award-winning mental health campaigner, film producer, public speaker, writer and vlogger.At the age of 20 Jonny was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar. Jonny now speaks publicly about living with mental illness around the world to help educate and break stigma. His 2014 social media campaign with Rethink Mental Illness to #findMike, the man who talked him out of jumping off a bridge when he was suicidal, went viral and led to Jonny becoming a prominent spokesperson on the subject of suicide.In 2018 Jonny launched his new youth mental health charity, Beyond. The charity is a grant-giving organisation that aims to provide mental health support to young people, their families and teachers. It is being led by a Youth Board, who together with Jonny, created the UK’s first mental health festival for schools and colleges in early 2021.

What does mental health mean to you?

Looking after your brain. Keeping it as well as you can.

What makes you feel alive?

Being with family and friends. Nature. Dancing to music.

What do you want to take away from your talk?

It’s ok to talk. And most importantly, that you can overcome any adversity!
Speaker

Carrie Carlisle

Carrie is a wife, mother, tv presenter, author and newspaper columnist.

Carrie is a wife, mother, tv presenter, author and newspaper columnist. Her greatest passion is working alongside her husband, Clarke Carlisle, as award-winning Mental Health Speakers, doing all they can to empower others who are walking the same wellness journey as they are.

What does mental health mean to you?

Health is health to me. Physical or Mental. I try to think of all health these days from a place of abundance, rather than lack.

What makes you feel alive?

Having fun with my family. Being surrounded by those who know me and love me the best.

What do you want people to take away from your talk?

That none of us ever need be afraid of the emotions or thoughts we are feeling. Because it’s all just information we can use to our advantage in our quest for wellness.

There is no doubt that challenges brought about by Covid-19 for people all around the globe have been unparalleled and have caused fear, uncertainty and anxiety.

According to Mental Health England 1 in 4 people in the UK experience a common mental health disorder. This stat is based on those who seek treatment. The real number is more likely 9 in 10 of us but this is normal. The issue however, is the the fact that 70-75% of people with diagnosable mental health conditions actually receive no treatment at all.

Be;Live exists to ensure people understand they are not alone and that there are practical, healthy solutions which can help us cope with any mental health condition.

Thanks to research into treatments and coping mechanisms, there are many healthy ways to manage our mental health and with the impact of COVID, this is a key time in history for us all to make a positive change.

Understanding that negative triggers such as trauma, heartache or grief can cause someone to suffer just as much as work, finances, and even day-day family life. This is why it is so important to arm ourselves proactively with healthy mechanisms and strategies which we can use to understand our emotions better and manage mental health from day to day. With this knowledge and with these actions we can be empowered in our journey.

GET TICKETS FOR 2022!

FREE FOR UK STUDENTS

This year the Sutton Trust discovered that 70% of UK students are concerned about their mental health and well-being. Due to underfunding, waiting times to see a professional can be long and we know that struggling alone with mental ill-health can feel scary. Therefore, we have decided to give ALL UK students free access to the live stream of Be;Live’s first event and we hope to see there!