Watford Matters with Dean Russell

Recently, I sat down with Suzanne Samaka (founder of #HonestyAboutEditing campaign), Danny Bowman (mental health advocate) and Daniel Magson (chair of Anorexia and Bulimia Care) to discuss body imaging, how images are edited online and in the printed press, and eating disorders.

In this episode, I sit down with the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, George Eustice MP.

We're slowly beginning to normalise conversations around our mental health. It begins with a simple 'how are you?'. For the latest in my series of mini mental health conversations, I'm pleased to be joined by the latest of Watford's leaders - Cheska Tyler, the headteacher at Cherry Tree School. 

Meet Shaf - Shaf is the founder of CageFit Gym in Watford. It’s a real community hub and he’s helping people become both physically and mentally fit. I popped along (not to work out sadly) but to speak to him for the latest of my mini-mental health conversations.

One positive from the past few difficult months has been people and community groups in Watford looking out for one another and displaying a strong spirit of neighbourliness. And volunteering with people like Enoch at One Vision has made a big difference for a lot of people’s mental wellbeing.

Here in Watford we are working to make it normal to talk about our mental health. My next mini-mental health conversation is with Harjit Singh, Deputy Lieutenant, and a local community volunteer with One Vision. He’s had his hands full helping others during the pandemic.

Watford's mental health conversations - one of my main focuses in Parliament is to make it normal to talk about our mental health with friends, neighbours and colleagues. I want Watford to lead the way on this - and I’m pleased to begin my series of mini mental health conversations with Maria Manion who runs Watford Business Improvement District (BID). 

One of my main focuses in Parliament is to make it normal to talk about our mental health with friends, neighbours and colleagues. I want Watford to lead the way on this - and I’m pleased to begin my series of mini mental health conversations with Watford Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Chris Luff and apprentice Lee. 

Watford's school kids definitely excel in maths - and pupils at Holywell Primary School proved it to the Chancellor when he dropped in recently to give them a virtual lesson! The skills on show were incredible and I was very proud of each and every pupil. You can listen to the full session with Rishi in this episode. 

Meet Mark Wilson - Mark is a Neurosurgeon, a doctor in the Air Ambulance, and co-founder of the GoodSam app. The app matches those in need of CPR with those that can provide it, lets people share their live video and location with emergency services, and so much more. Mark joins me in this episode.