Here you’ll find a growing treasure chest where I am collecting the most hard won Knowledge, Wisdom, Skills and Lived Experiences.
Human Connection Right Now
Samaritans
Helpline there to listen if you need emotional support, 24/7.
CALM
A movement against suicide, rich resources including helpline, community and campaigns particularly responding to male distress.
Maytree
Helpful registered charity for respite, guidance and signposting for people when they are feeling suicidal.
Papyrus
A suicide prevention charity aimed at under 35’s and people worried about others - offering a Hope Line confidential and practical service to explore options of support.
Things You Can Do Right Now
Body Work - Rufus May
Some body based knowledge and skills from Yogi practices, practical and easy to learn for grounding and calming yourself or others.
Writing to Fear With Compassion - Elizabeth Gilbert
Here Liz Gilbert shares an exercise she has used through the most frightening moments of her life, to soothe and bring comfort.
Yogi Breathing Technique - Tim Senesi
An excellent breathing technique, quick to learn and very effective, known by the yogi’s as: “Nadi Shodhan Pranayama”. It’s the real deal.
3 Minute Breathing Space - Maitreyabandhu
A mini floating island of stillness in your busy life, 3 minute breathing to ground you, guided by Maitreyabandhu the head of the London Buddhist Centre.
Zines
Hell Yeah Selfcare Zine
Off beat zine by Dr Meg Josh-Barker, taking a critical, productive and practical approach to self-care for these weird times.
Radical Reframing of Covid-19 Zine
A great reframe zine by Emily Ehlers.
A Small Toolkit For Taking Care
A narrative therapy inspired zine by the amazing Tiffany Sostar.
Lived Wisdom on Panic Worry and Isolation
This document contains the wisdom of thirty people’s experience with panic worry and isolation. It comes out of the hard won knowledge of survivors and users of services.
Knowledge Is Power
The Space Between Self Compassion & Self-Esteem
Excellent ideas from Dr Kristin Nef on why it makes sense to reach for Self Compassion over attempting to boost our self-esteem - and how to do this.
The Myth of the Chemical Cure
Valuable, balanced, un-biased factual knowledge from Dr Joanna Moncrieff for those considering phyciatric drugs - "The Myth of the Chemical Cure: The Politics of Psychiatric Drug Treatment”
Make Stress Your Friend
Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.
Values-Focused vs Goals-Focused Life
Dr. Russ Harris, explains the important distinction between living a goals-focused vs a values-focused life.
Podcasts
Dr Brené Brown - Unlocking Us
Brené Brown unpacks and explores the ideas, stories, experiences, books, films, and music that reflect the universal experiences of being human, from the bravest moments to the most brokenhearted.
The Minimalists
Great podcast and resouces page exploring a range of issues responding to how capitalism and consumerism overshadow what’s truly important. “Minimalists don’t focus on having less, less, less. We focus on making room for more: more time, more passion, more creativity, more experiences, more contribution, more contentment, more freedom..”.
Esther Parel - Where Should We Begin
Couples therapist, speaker and relationship consultant Esther Parel explores the interplay between love and desire. “Step into iconic couples therapist Esther Perel's office and listen as real couples anonymously bare the raw, intimate, and profound details of their story.”
Hozier - Cry Power
The amazing Hozier in dialogue with artists, musicians and writers about the diverse forms of social action and activism. If we think of wellbeing existing in social context, then this podcast has much to offer.
Websites
Positive News
News has a direct impact on our life, because stories shape our world. What news do you choose? This website offers balance to the problem saturated news out there, providing complete stories which highlight solutions and progress on themes from health and mental wellbeing to sustainabity and community initiatives. It’s full of information about new and exciting projects that grow hope and optimism.
Narrative Responses to The Pandemic
A range of valuable projects on hope, relationships and family in response to the pandemic.
Let’s Talk About Loss
Young people led organisation on creating forums to be able to talk about loss: offering monthly meet up groups for under 35’s. Check the website for art-projects, a berevement book club and songs about loss.
Gendered Intelligence
Trans led charity offering youth work, training and an excellent resource page.
