If you are in treatment for a mental health disorder, finding ways to fill your time around your therapy and treatments can be a challenge. Mental health podcasts could be just the solution you’ve been looking for to fill your time in between sessions or during your downtime at the facility.

Podcasts are becoming more widespread and popular than ever before, with more than 550,000 different podcasts to pick from and more than 18.5 million episodes across over a hundred languages. A surprising number of these podcasts are focused on mental health and well-being, and represent a great way for those who are currently in recovery or who are still struggling with their problems to tune in and realize that they are not alone.

Over 40 million people in the USA along are living with a mental health problem. That’s more people than the combined populations of Florida and New York! Not only that, but a fifth of all adults suffer from a mental health condition, and one in 17 people are living with a serious disorder like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.

Yet even though mental illnesses are so prevalent, discussing them remains quite taboo. Despite increased efforts to break down the barriers, there is still a stigma attached to conditions like anxiety, depression and OCD and this makes it difficult to talk about such problems. One way of breaking through this stigma is to begin a conversation about it, and there’s no better way to do it than by making podcasts surrounding the subject. Audio is becoming an increasingly popular medium through which information can be shared, and this has led to podcasts which discuss mental health and psychology gathering widespread audiences all over the world.

Listening to podcasts is a brilliant way to gain greater awareness of mental health conditions, and can help give sufferers validation when they’re struggling emotionally and psychologically with their issues. The fact that listeners tune into mental health podcasts alone makes them a safe space in which they can become self-aware and develop greater self-acceptance. Not only that, but the personal level of storytelling in podcasts can be a very powerful tool to assist in coping with a mental health problem since the listener is easily able to identify with someone else who is going through the same thing.

When mental health podcasts are used in conjunction with other therapies in treatment, it can really help to get the individual to focus on their recovery practice. These podcasts represent a way of committing oneself to becoming well and add an additional layer of cathartic discovery and self-help to existing treatments which the sufferer is already experiencing.

What Are Mental Health Podcasts?

Mental health podcasts are podcasts which focus on mental health topics within each episode of the series. Some use humor and storytelling, others use debate or expert advice, however all delve more deeply into these topics, helping listeners to begin a voyage of self-discovery and to find out more about how they can help themselves.

Anybody can become a podcaster since there aren’t any rules to dictate who can share their thoughts and experiences. However, the top mental health podcasters have put a lot of work and effort into creating high-quality episodes which reach millions. The top mental health podcasts are run by people who either have the needed expertise or have access to expert knowledge. They recognize the power of their own honest sharing, but also understand the limits of their knowledge. They, therefore, provide an engaging mix of stories, information, interviews, and advice.

Many of the podcasters who present mental health podcasts have been mental illness sufferers themselves. After finding ways of coping, they are now keen to share their tips and knowledge with other sufferers. These podcasts represent a safe space for support and understanding through the telling of personal stories and the sharing of advice through personal experience.

Are There Different Kinds Of Mental Health Podcast?

Mental health podcasts come in a range of types, however, in general, they all have similar goals of exploration, advice and connection. There are, however, some differences in the way they approach those goals. Some of the most common types of mental health podcast include:

• Psychology podcasts – these explore psychology and mental health fields and open discussions about these fields which often fly under the radar.
• Self-help podcasts – these offer listeners tools that they can use to improve their own lives.
• Anxiety podcasts – these focus on struggles with anxiety – something which millions of people experience daily. These podcasts share stories and personal experiences that make sufferers feel less alone. They also offer practical advice and tips for coping.
• Teen podcasts – teenagers are especially vulnerable to mental health disorders and these specialized podcasts are designed for a younger audience who need their issues to be taken seriously. These podcasts offer advice so teenagers can begin to spot signs of mental health problems in their friends and in themselves and help to relieve feelings of isolation.
• Funny podcasts – while mental health is a serious subject, humor can still be helpful in making the subject accessible. Humor makes difficult topics easier to talk about while eliminating the taboo and stigmas surrounding this subject.

Why Mental Health Podcasts?

In recent times, podcasts have become one of the most popular mediums for sharing ideas and information in an easily digestible and engaging way. Since podcasts can be downloaded or streamed digitally, they can be taken anywhere and listened to in any location for extra convenience. Mental health podcasts can help listeners in treatment deepen their understanding of their emotions and mind in an accessible way since the best ones feature leading experts and engaging hosts who make the content entertaining as well as informative.

For anyone experiencing poor mental health, following the storyline of a book or focusing on a television program can often be challenging. Whether sufferers lack the ability to concentrate or whether they just have no energy, reading or viewing can just be too much effort. Mental health podcasts, on the other hand, are considerably less demanding and this makes them very accessible even to those who are going through a major crisis. Even better, listening to others talking about the challenges they face in their own lives helps sufferers to recognize that they’re not alone.

With this in mind, here are five of the best mental health podcasts to tune into when you’re in treatment.

Happy Place

The Happy Place podcast is hosted by British TV presenter Fearne Cotton and features an array of fantastic and interesting guests who are all happy to discuss their mental health issues fully and frankly. Some of the best-known guests that she has had on her series include TV personalities and comedians like Stephen Fry and Dawn French, sportspeople like Tom Daley and authors like Matt Haig.

The podcast has a primarily light-hearted tone, but it’s also often moving since the celebrities who are invited to join Fearne open up to her about the various mental health problems they’ve gone through in their lives. In each episode, the guests talk about loss, love, life and much more, revealing to the listener exactly what the word “happy” means to them. Fearne has an excellent way of gently encouraging her guests to share their feelings, and as a result, the conversations are honest and engaging, helping the listener to remember that they aren’t the only ones who experience anxiety, depression and other problems.

This podcast also gives helpful advice to support the listener’s own mental well-being, with a focus on recovery, stress-relief and body positivity.

Bryony Gordon’s Mad World

This podcast is commissioned by The Telegraph newspaper and comes with the helpful tagline “It’s normal to feel weird”. Presented by Bryony Gordon, each episode features guests from the world of television and film as well as chefs, writers and even royalty! (Gordon interviewed Prince Harry back in 2017!) In each episode of this mental health podcast series she talks to a guest about mental illnesses and the way in which they have impacted on their lives. Despite the serious subject matter, the tone is casual and engaging, with a refreshingly honest feel.

Mentally Yours

Hosted by Yvette Caster and Ellen Scott, the Mentally Yours podcast involves conversations with a wide range of guests who are all upfront about their mental health struggles. There is absolutely no stigma in talking about mental health issues on this podcast as guests share their personal experiences as well as their own advice for coping with anxiety, stress, depression and more. Some of the issues tackled by the hosts are pretty hard-hitting, but nothing is overlooked as topics such as event organizing, career changes, money problems, arranging a wedding, post-natal depression, grief, panic attacks, loss and social anxiety are all well and truly covered,

The Minimalists

Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn present The Minimalist podcast which is based on their book of the same name and their own philosophy of bringing only the things which truly matter into their lives. Ryan and Joshua’s book reached more than 20 million people, and now the podcast continues on from its success, advocating living meaningful lives by eliminating or reducing the things which don’t matter. By doing this, we can create purpose and meaning in our lives and thus achieve happiness. While this podcast may not appear to be directly linked to mental health, it is highly beneficial for those in treatment to reduce the clutter in their brain so they can improve their overall well-being. This makes this podcast a great choice for tuning into.

The Hilarious World of Depression

It’s fair to say that not many people are going to associate the word “hilarious” with depression, and yet this odd concept has many people who suffer with this condition tuning in on a regular basis to listen to the amusing stories and helpful advice that this podcast holds. Presented by John Moe, this podcast sees comedians who have all experienced depression in their own lives joining the host for conversations with plenty of humor thrown in.

For anyone in treatment, this podcast can be a lifeline, bringing a little entertainment to their day and helping to relive the weight of their condition for a short while. In every episode, a guest will talk about their own experiences of mental illness, giving a greater insight into their condition while making a potentially distressing situation more amusing and relatable. It’s mental health podcasts like these which really help to break through the stigma and build up a stronger feeling of community among sufferers everywhere.

What Are The Benefits Of Mental Health Podcasts?

These five podcasts are just a handful of the many options that listeners in treatment can listen to. However, all of these provide strategies and tips which can be useful in managing mental health while also proving a helpful platform for creating meaningful conversations surrounding mental health disorders.

Many people who have a mental health condition feel as if they are completely isolated right at the time when they could most benefit from somebody understanding them. Mental health podcasts can come to the rescue, tackling difficult topics like anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder and much more head on. As a result, they can make listeners who are struggling and in pain feel as if they aren’t alone, breaking down the taboos which still surround these kinds of illnesses.

Convenient and free, mental health podcasts are a helpful and engaging mental well-being tool that can offer education, advice and support for those in treatment and who are most in need. Thanks to their informative resources and additional knowledge, they offer something for everybody, whatever their mental health condition, whatever the extent of their problems and whatever their feelings and thoughts. Any of the five options suggested here could be the perfect choice for you if you want an accessible and engaging way to give your mental health a boost.

If you are struggling with your mental health and looking for a way to manage, you have options. You have The Meadowglade. We’re open 24/7 and we’re open for tours. We offer free consultations to help potential clients discover how we can help them. Contact us today so we can help!