{"id":27195,"date":"2025-05-12T11:53:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-12T10:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/?p=27195"},"modified":"2025-05-13T09:42:49","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T08:42:49","slug":"how-to-navigate-modern-life-mental-health-and-wellbeing-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/around-ou\/tv-radio\/how-to-navigate-modern-life-mental-health-and-wellbeing-programme\/","title":{"rendered":"How to navigate modern life – mental health and wellbeing programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mental health and wellbeing are the subjects covered by The Open University<\/a>\/BBC<\/a> co-production ‘Change Your Mind, Change Your Life’ which airs from Tuesday 13 May at 23:00 on BBC One and at 23:50 in Northern Ireland.\u00a0 All episodes will be available on BBC iPlayer<\/a> from Tues 13 May.<\/p>\n

OU academics Professor Andreas Vossler<\/a> and Professor Naomi Moller<\/a> are psychologists who acted as consultants to the programme makers on this four-part series featuring TV presenters Emma Willis and her musician husband Matt Willis.<\/p>\n

In the programme, which coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week, the well-known duo team up with some of Britain\u2019s leading therapists to explore how they can help us navigate the challenges that modern life throws at us.<\/p>\n

As they follow a range of people across the UK experiencing therapy, many for the first time, they will uncover practical and accessible ways to improve mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the series, Professor Andreas Vossler and Professor Naomi Moller said:<\/p>\n

\u201cThis ground-breaking series showcasing real therapy sessions gives viewers a rare, authentic look into how therapy works-offering practical tools, breaking down stigma, and showing how therapy can help people lead a healthier, more fulfilled life. It illustrates how our thoughts, emotions, relationships, and life experiences shape our well-being and influence the way we cope with everyday challenges. <\/em><\/p>\n

As academic consultants, we provided academic advice on the approach and content of the series at different stages, from the initial project briefing, to reviewing the fine episode edits. <\/em><\/p>\n

We are both trained therapists with longstanding experience in couple, family, and long-term integrative therapy and we combine academic research, clinical expertise, and a strong commitment to public engagement through collaborations with leading counselling organisations and accessible educational resources.<\/em><\/p>\n

To support the series we also developed a comprehensive online support resource, offering guidance for people thinking about starting therapy as a client, and those considering training to become a therapist. <\/em><\/p>\n

We enjoyed contributing our expertise to such an innovative and ground-breaking series that brings the reality of therapy to a wider audience\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Supporting online content:<\/strong><\/p>\n

To accompany the programme the OU academic consultants have created a guide for people thinking about starting therapy as a client, and those considering training to become a therapist. Hosted on the B&P site OU Connect<\/strong><\/a>, this resource will feature exclusive bonus video content from one of the show’s therapists, as well as the show\u2019s presenters.<\/p>\n

This series was commissioned by Broadcast & Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, with particular relevance to R86 BSc in Counselling<\/a>, X09 Foundation Degree in Counselling<\/a> and Q84 Psychology with Counselling<\/a><\/p>\n