Wired for Hope

In this episode of the Wired for Hope podcast, Dr Jess meets Paul Beadon, a Consultant Clinical Psychologist with more than two decades of experience in palliative and end-of-life care.

They discuss one of the most charged and nuanced topics in healthcare today: assisted dying.

This conversation is not a debate for or against, but an attempt to have the thoughtful, clinically grounded discussion that the public discourse so often lacks.

Paul describes the global and historical landscape of assisted dying legislation and explains the key points of controversy.

The conversation also explores what patients most often need psychologically at the end of life, why so many clinicians inadvertently shut down conversations about death, and the concept of "pragmatic neutrality”.

This episode was published on September 7th and the assisted dying bill is going to be debated in the UK Parliament on September 11th. The issue has been debated many times over the last century.

This is part one of Dr Jess and Paul's conversation. Subscribe to the podcast to make sure you catch part two. And join the conversation on Instagram @drjessneuropsych

Warning: this episode contains discussions of death, dying, and end-of-life care.

CHAPTERS:
(00:00) Introduction
(01:10) Assisted Dying UK History
(08:04) Emotions and Needs
(13:43) Palliative Care Choice Gap
(18:10) Pragmatic Neutrality for Psychologists
(22:08) Personal Contexts and Public Views
(37:16) Therapeutic Conversations

Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me.

Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton

Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠

Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line.
UK Resources Include:
• Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999
• Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123
• NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111
• Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services.
• ⁠Headway⁠ – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families.
Limitation of Liability
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content.
Please see full disclaimer in the show description.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two of this conversations, Dr Melinda Rees turns her attention to the future: technology, AI, and what mental health services could and should look like.

She and Dr Jess explore the rise of chatbots as informal mental health support for young people, and the real concerns around alienation, stickability, and whether digital tools can genuinely touch the sides for people who need embodied care.

Melinda shares what she's building at Psyomics - a platform called Be Seen, designed to slash repeat assessments and speed up access to mental health services - and explains why she believes the golden question that nobody has yet answered properly is simply: what works best for whom?

The conversation also takes in NHS staff wellbeing, the billions of pounds of unused NHS estate sitting idle while clinicians are being let go, and why Melinda thinks psychologists need to stop holding hypotheses and start making bold, opinionated leadership decisions.

This is part two of a two-part conversation. To listen to part one, just search for Wired for Hope wherever you get your podcasts.

LINKS:
Psyomics

Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me.

Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton

Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠

Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line.
UK Resources Include:
• Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999
• Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123
• NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111
• Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services.
• ⁠Headway⁠ – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families.
Limitation of Liability
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content.
Please see full disclaimer in the show description.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr Jess spends some time with Dr Melinda Rees, a consultant clinical psychologist with more than three decades of experience across clinical, leadership, and commercial roles in mental health.

Melinda is now CEO of the mental health technology company Psyomics.

She opens up about her own journey: from her first day as a newly qualified psychologist arriving at a struggling GP practice in East London in 2000, to the culture war that erupted within psychology services when outcomes monitoring was introduced.

She reflects on the changes NHS mental health services have been through in just the last decade, and what that shift means for quality, for staff, and for patients.

And Melinda reflects candidly on what she sees as the biggest misconception the public still holds about the National Health Service.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Subscribe to the Wired for Hope podcast to make sure you don’t miss the second part when it is released.

LINKS:
Psyomics

Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me.

Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton

Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠

Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line.
UK Resources Include:
• Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999
• Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123
• NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111
• Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services.
• ⁠Headway⁠ – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families.
Limitation of Liability
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content.
Please see full disclaimer in the show description.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In part two, Dr Mary Delaney picks up with the neuroscience of nature, exploring how natural environments reduce activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, restore attentional capacity, and boost creativity.

She highlights why that matters profoundly for people living with brain injuries and neurological conditions.

Mary describes what a typical adapted forest bathing session looks like for Neuro in Nature's groups, including indoor and even online versions for those who can't easily get outside, and reflects on what a neurorehabilitation service designed from scratch around nature might look like.

She also offers practical, accessible suggestions for anyone listening who wants to reconnect with the natural world.

Links:
Neuro in Nature: https://neuroinnature.co.uk/
@neuroinnature on Facebook, instagram and linkedin

More info about forest bathing: https://tfb.institute

Forestry England virtual forest bathing: https://www.forestryengland.uk/virtual-forest-bathing

Nature Connectedness Handbook: https://findingnature.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/the-nature-connection-handbook.pdf

Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me.

Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton

Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠

Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line.
UK Resources Include:
• Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999
• Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123
• NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111
• Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services.
• ⁠Headway⁠ – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families.
Limitation of Liability
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content.
Please see full disclaimer in the show description.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Dr Jess meets Dr Mary Delaney, a consultant clinical neuropsychologist in Greater Manchester and co-founder of the social enterprise Neuro in Nature.

Mary shares the story of how she and her colleague Claire McDonald came to set up the enterprise, after noticing, during the Covid lockdowns, just how differently their clients with brain injuries engaged in sessions held outside, and how much calmer and more communicative they became.

The conversation explores what distinguishes intentional nature therapy and forest bathing from a simple walk in the park - and why, for people with neurological conditions, the low cognitive load of being in nature can be a profound help alongside more traditional talking therapies.

Mary describes the groups she and Claire run in a woodland park, shares a touching story of a gentleman with severe aphasia who spoke more during those sessions than he had since his stroke, and introduces two of her favourite nature metaphors - the lottery of the seed and the wood wide web.

We also explore the science behind nature's effects on our nervous system, immune function, and mental health.

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Subscribe to make sure you don’t miss part two which will be released in a fortnight.

Links:
Neuro in Nature: https://neuroinnature.co.uk/
@neuroinnature on Facebook, instagram and linkedin
More info about forest bathing: https://tfb.institute
Forestry England virtual forest bathing: https://www.forestryengland.uk/virtual-forest-bathing
Nature Connectedness Handbook: https://findingnature.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/the-nature-connection-handbook.pdf

Subscribe today to join the Wired for hope podcast community and learn with me.

Written and hosted by Dr. Jessica Barton

Produced by ⁠Anthony Zahra⁠

Music Credit: ⁠SigmaMusicArt⁠

DISCLAIMER:
This podcast is not intended for use in crisis situations. If you are in immediate danger, experiencing suicidal thoughts, or facing a mental health emergency, please seek immediate help by contacting emergency services or a crisis line.
UK Resources Include:
• Emergency Services (Police/Ambulance): Call 999
• Samaritans (Free, 24/7 Helpline): Call 116 123
• NHS 111 (Non-Emergency Medical Help): Call 111
• Contact your local Single Point of Access (SPA) for mental health referrals and support — a centralised hub in the UK for accessing local services.
• ⁠Headway⁠ – A UK charity providing resources and support for individuals affected by brain injury and their families.
Limitation of Liability
While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and relevance of information shared, the host and contributors to “Wired for Hope” disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage that may arise from the use of the podcast or reliance on its content.
Please see full disclaimer in the show description.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.