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Dark Coffee Podcast

Starting brave and bullshit-free conversations around mental health and wellbeing.

19 April 2019

12. Emotional Honesty is Strength

17 March 2019

11. When to Quit

28 February 2019

10. Self Care for Dummies

11 February 2019

9. Suicide Fantasies

12 January 2019

8. My theme for 2019

3 January 2019

7. Why we all hate New Year (and why we shouldn’t.)

16 December 2018

6. Loss, Actually

15 December 2018

5. Lessons from Scrooge

9 December 2018

4. Owning Your Mistakes

28 November 2018

3. Takeaway Coffee – Mental Health Emergencies

22 November 2018

2. Interview with Sophie Turton

13 November 2018

1: Introducing Dark Coffee

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🔈 CALLING ALL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES! • Mos

🔈 CALLING ALL MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES! •

Most of us are interested in improving the mental health of our workplaces and communities.

But often the problem feels too big to handle.

That’s why I'm starting the Mental Health Meetup; a free online event where mental health professionals, advocates and change-makers can:

o Support, encourage and motivate each other

o Share ideas and learn from others

o Meet potential clients, collaborators, friends and allies

o Gain insights to help turn thoughts into action

o Have energising conversations that focus on finding solutions

The meetup will be an interactive, conversation-based networking event based on a series of breakout rooms where we discuss our take on the topic of the day.

WHO IS THE EVENT FOR?

1. PROFESSIONALS:
people actively working in mental health or wellbeing

2. ADVOCATES:
people passionate about improving mental health in society, e.g: Mental health first aiders | Wellbeing champions | HR professionals | Company directors

3. CHANGE-MAKERS:
people with the power to make changes around policy, or to connect different parts of the mental health community

Tuesday 13th April, 12.30pm - 1.30pm GMT

📲 Sound good? Link to book is in my bio - or send this post to someone you think would be interested.

😊 See you there!

- Alice

💪HELP YOUR TEAM BUILD BACK BOLDER • There ha

💪HELP YOUR TEAM BUILD BACK BOLDER •

There has never been a more difficult time to be a leader in business.

You’re worried about business performance.

(Especially if you’ve grown during the pandemic... the guilt! The ridiculous level of guilt!)

You’re worried about team engagement.

Are they enjoying their work? Are they still managing to collaborate across the void? Are they still motivated without the office pool table?

More importantly though, you’re worried for their sanity.

You’re probably wondering if you’re doing enough to support their mental health, but suspect you could be doing more.

😁 Well that’s where the Build Back Bolder program comes in!

This 90-day GROUP COACHING PROGRAM is designed to bring your team closer together and help each other with personal development.

We all love a bit of organised fun, but if you’re all pub-quizzed-out, this could be just the thing.

Over 6 sessions, we’ll explore topics including boundary-setting, confidence and self-esteem to help your team grow as individuals and support each other at the same time.

Taking ownership over our personal development is massively beneficial for our sense of wellbeing.

And that increased level of agency, certainty and confidence can compound to increase sexy things like productivity, profitability and work satisfaction.

If you’re an SME owner looking for a way to boost your team, this could be just the thing.

Download the Build Back Bolder program outline using the link in our bio, or book a coffee chat if you’d like to chat in more detail 🙌🏼

**PS - not a manager, but like the sound of the program? Send it on to the L&D Manager in your life and I’ll see if I can win them over 😉

- ☕️ Alice

“Sometimes you can try your best and it will sti

“Sometimes you can try your best and it will still go tits up! That’s just life, and it’s ok to fail.”

🙌🏼 My favourite takeaway from this week’s Working on Wellbeing guest - @katenags

Kate runs the London freelance desk at a creative recruitment agency.

😆 She’s also a master baker and knows all the words to Ice Ice Baby!

💫 More importantly though, she is a champion of common sense and advocate of working towards wellbeing at work.

💁🏻‍♀️ Get in touch with Kate for a lovely chat around recruitment or job hunting... or if you just fancy a good gossip. She’s a legend!

- ☕️ Alice

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📲 Want to give us your take on wellbeing at work?

Head to the link in our bio and fill out the short form to be featured in a future article.

🎉 NEW MEETUP!! If you’re one of the mission

🎉 NEW MEETUP!!

If you’re one of the mission-driven mental health advocates in my network, this will be right up your street!

If you want to be part of solving the rising mental health crisis, come along to this fun, friendly and free meetup launching next month!

We’ll be welcoming, PROFESSIONALS including:

🧠 Psychologists
🩺 Doctors
👊 Activists
📚 Academics
🧘 Wellbeing Facilitators
🎤 Lived experience speakers
✍️Writers

ADVOCATES including:

📖 Students and graduates
⛑ Mental health first aides
💫 Wellbeing Champions
💻 Company Directors
💼 HR Managers
🙌 ... basically anyone who cares about improving mental health for all

And CHANGE-MAKERS, including:

⚖️ Policy makers
🧑‍💼 Local councillors, authorities and MP’s
⛓ Those connectors who can bring all of the above together!

Whoever you are, if you’re interested, we want you involved!

This is an interactive networking and conversation group with one aim:

to bring together our skills, knowledge and passion to help solve the mental health crisis.

📅 FIRST SESSION: 12.30pm GMT Tuesday 13th April.

📲 Sign up using the link in our bio and let’s do this thing 💃

- ☕️ Alice

“DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS” • T

“DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS” •

That was my main takeaway from Toby Lyons (no relation to me!) at @psychotherapyleeds

Toby has been working in hospitality for the last 8 years alongside doing ‘a lot of university-ing!’

He is also a relational/ integrative psychotherapist setting up a private therapy and counselling practice... so he knows a thing or two about juggling workload.

Great then to hear his professional opinion of how to stay happy and sane at work!

He’s a huge advocate of finding what works for YOU.

Some things that have worked for him that he recommends include:

☕️ having a laugh

☕️ reading and watching something you can lose yourself in

☕️ stroking animals (owners permission is recommended!)

☕️ doing something generous for someone (or yourself!)

This interview is chock-full of useful nuggets and insights, and there’s more of the same on Toby’s page so check out @psychotherapyleeds for more wellbeing wisdom and psychotherapy 101

👉🏼 What’s your favourite takeaway from today’s guest? Let me know below

- ☕️ Alice

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☺️ Want to share your take on wellbeing at work with the Dark Coffee community?

Follow the ‘Working on Wellbeing’ link in our bio and fill out the form to get features in a future article.

Check in with yourself • What a week, eh? I k

Check in with yourself •

What a week, eh?

I know I don’t usually post on a weekend but there’s so much heaviness in the air for so many of us, I wanted to offer a couple of thoughts...

First off, I hope you’re all ok.

From the discussions I’ve had with women in my network this week, I know a lot of them are reeling from Sarah Everard’s death.

It’s heartbreaking to think of Sarah, her family and friends who are all suffering from such a senseless attack.

And in a broader sense, there’s a feeling of ‘it could have been me or someone I know.’

Women all know that feeling of fear for their personal safety, and the safeguards that we put in place to protect ourselves.

Safeguards that we shouldn’t fucking need.

I know I’ve been feeling a lot of anger and despair the last few days.

Anger that we live in a society where women are not safe walking home alone.

And despair at the scale of the problem, that sometimes feels like it’s too big to handle.

It’s exhausting.

And yet, we carry on.

Problems can feel all-consuming in the moment, but we have an incredible capacity to move through them.

I know for myself I feel a lot better waking up today than yesterday.

In spite of the rain, I’m going to go for a long walk because I know it helps me think, heal and process things.

Big social problems will not be solved overnight, but we can do what we can to find calm, peace and a sense of wellbeing, while we’re working towards the changes we want to see.

It sounds cheesy but it’s like finding the eye of the storm, where it’s quiet.

I hope you’ll find a bit of peace for yourself this weekend, whether that’s walking, journaling, spending time with loved ones, having an amazing takeaway, playing video games, watching Netflix....

Whatever makes you feel good, I’d say go all in on that.

This week has been a lot. Give yourself a break.

Sending you so much love,

- ☕️ Alice

This week has been brutal • I know the news is

This week has been brutal •

I know the news is never sweet and cuddly, but it’s been particularly shit this week.

The interview with Meghan and Harry sparked anger and outrage around media conduct, racism and mental health.

Sarah Everard has made us reflect on women’s safety, abuses of power and sexism.

And of course the c-word rumbles on in the background...

Just a reminder that you can step back when you need to take a breath.

You don’t need to keep up with everything that’s going on.

Especially if you’re already overwhelmed.

The doom-scroll-hole can be a form of self-harm if we’re not aware of it.

☕️ Step away from the screens.

☕️ Ask people “would you mind if we don’t talk about that today? I’m finding it quite stressful.’

☕️ Turn the notifications off so you’re not being reminded of things that are out of your control.

☕️ Set timers to limit your scroll time.

Being on social media in weeks like this can feel like we’re in a boxing match being repeatedly punched in the face.

As my partner so eloquently put it “there’s a reason boxing rounds only last 3 minutes.”

Removing yourself from the fight temporarily will give you an opportunity to recover.

You can always step back into the ring tomorrow.

- ☕️ Alice

Meghan Markle went on international television spe

Meghan Markle went on international television speaking about her experience with suicide ideation.

She said she directly asked for help from the institution she was a part of, but was refused.

The next day, Piers Morgan went on television loudly dismissing her claims.

The saddest observation is that someone reached out for help and was 1) refused and 2) faced criticism.

How many times is this replicated in workplaces across the UK?

The fear of repercussions is what prevents a lot of employees reaching out when they need it most.

They fear how people will react.

They fear questions around their capabilities or character.

They worry they will be judged.

They worry they won’t be believed.

If you are in a position of authority, please reach out to your team before the end of the week.

Tell them that you are not going to treat them like that.

Tell them what you WILL do:

Show compassion.

Tell them you’re there and you care for their welfare.

Ask what you can do.

Offer to help them find further support if they need it.

Piers Morgan left Good Morning Britain after 41,000 complaints. The tide is turning on intolerance around mental health.

I know you’re part of that solution, so let your people know it as well.

Don’t assume that they know you’re there for them.

TELL THEM in no uncertain terms that you’re NOT like Piers.

- ☕️ Alice