The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Shirley Bassey, David Beckham and more will unite radio for the #MentalHealthMinute

On Friday 14th May at 10:59am, every radio station in the UK will unite to play the 2021 Mental Health Minute – an important one minute message to mark this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week.

For the fourth year in a row, over 500 stations – including BBC, commercial and community stations around the UK, will reach over 20 million listeners with the message, which will encourage everyone to keep the conversation on mental health going.

Delivered by Radiocentre and Somethin’ Else, the Mental Health Minute is created in partnership with The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This year, for the first time, the initiative is supporting Shout 85258 – the UK’s first free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service. The service provides round the clock support from clinical supervisors and trained volunteers to ensure no one has to face their problems alone. 

Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will voice the minute alongside influential voices from sport, music, and film. Featuring in the 2021 Mental Health Minute are: Anne Marie, Charles Dance, Dame Shirley Bassey, David Beckham, Hussain Manawer, Jamie Oliver, Jesse Lingard, Joanna Lumley and The Duke of Cambridge The Duchess of Cambridge.

Simulcast to millions of listeners towards the end of the 2021 Mental Health Awareness Week – a national week hosted each year by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s Mental Health Minute encourages everyone around the UK to keep talking about mental health. The message highlights how vital talking can be
– just one conversation can be an incredibly powerful step for someone who is struggling with their mental health. The script has been written by poet, writer, and mental health activist, Hussain Manawer, who has been a long-time supporter of both Shout 85258 and the mental health campaigns Heads Together and Heads Up, run by The Royal Foundation.

Victoria Hornby, CEO of Mental Health Innovations, the charity behind the Shout 85258 text messaging support service said: “We are absolutely thrilled that Shout is being highlighted in this year’s Mental Health Minute. It has been an incredibly tough year for so many people and it’s more important than ever that anyone who is feeling worried or overwhelmed knows where to turn, to reach out for help. Our service is here 24/7 for people to have a free, confidential text conversation with one of our trained volunteers who will listen without judgement, help you feel calm and find a way forward. Just text SHOUT to 85258 at any time of day or night; we’re here for you.”

Siobhan Kenny, Chief Executive of Radiocentre said: “Thanks to all the amazing contributors, to radio stations across the UK and to The Royal Foundation for once again joining forces to highlight radio’s unique ability to be both intimate yet part of a much bigger collective. As radio has proved its immense value to millions of listeners during the pandemic, this message is even more timely in this its fourth year”.

Steve Ackerman, Chief Content Officer at Somethin’ Else, the UK’s largest independent podcast and audio producer who have produced the Mental Health Minute for a number of years said: “At a time when mental well-being is more important than ever, we’re delighted to work again with The Royal Foundation and Radiocentre to harness the power of audio and social media to deliver another Mental Health Minute, which has now become a key part of the radio calendar”.

For more information about Shout 85258, visit www.giveusashout.org. Anyone, anywhere in the UK can text ‘Shout’ to 85258 for support whenever they need it.

Listen to the Mental Health Minute across radio at 10.59am on Friday.