About me
I'm Lucy Georgina Thomas, a First Class Honors Multimedia Journalism Graduate from Bournemouth University (BU) and the producer of Exercise Saved My Life.
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I'm also a Royal Television Society bursary recipient who is passionate about working in broadcast TV with an aim of spreading the awareness of mental health and positive mental wellbeing.
As Events Officer of the Mental Health Zone during my final year of university, I helped promote positive wellbeing for students whilst tackling the stigma of mental health on campus.
I work on the committee and with other passionate students to organise events/activities, run student support groups and spread the awareness of mental health.
As part of my final year project, I created a 7-minute television documentary, Exercise Saved My Life exploring how participating in physical activity could decrease male suicides in the UK.
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Why have I chosen this topic?
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Suicide is a serious issue that needs to be recognised and prevented. Mental health stigma is difficult for everyone, but it can be especially challenging for men. Masculinity has been represented as tough and strong through the media for decades, making it even more difficult for men to open up and express emotions.
I want to help change this by showing men that it's okay to talk and that participating in exercise could be a great way to sustain positive wellbeing.
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Mental health is also a subject that has risen in the media spotlight, but still needs more recognition. BBC One's two-part series 'Mind over Marathon' gave a voice to those struggling with mental health problems earlier this year. With the Royals appearance on the show, listening to the runners stories, more people have recognised mental health as a serious issue and opened up about their own stories. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, as well as Prince Harry have also launched Heads Together to help change the conversation around mental health issues.
I want to be involved in challenging the stigma of mental health, especially for those who find it most difficult to talk.
There needs to be a better understanding of mental health conditions and an acceptance of those who suffer. We need to work together and talk.
UK rapper Professor Green, Stephen Manderson, also highlighted the urgency of acknowledging the pressing problem of male suicide in his documentary 'Suicide and Me' (2015). In a journey to uncover the truth behind the suicide of his father, Stephen explored the suffering of male suicide in the UK. The documentary challenged
the stigma around suicide and looked at the ways it is being tackled.
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The subject is also very personal to me as I have
suffered with depression and anxiety, and have received therapy for symptoms of Post-Traumatic stress disorder. Producing this documentary is a form of therapy for myself by creating more awareness of mental health issues, like suicide, whilst hopefully inspiring others to never give up on themselves.
