Sussex & Surrey Soapbox: Mental Health - Are you okay? The question that saves lives
The ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ is a new podcast aiming to close the gap on the local issues that matter — by creating a space where real voices, real issues and different perspectives can be heard without the usual noise of partisan politics or keyboard warriors.
The ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ is a new podcast aiming to close the gap on the local issues that matter — by creating a space where real voices, real issues and different perspectives can be heard without the usual noise of partisan politics or keyboard warriors.
It brings together a Roundtable of community members - Clive Hilton (Host & Creator), Georgie Lucas, Iqbal Khan, James Tidy, Maureen Jones, Aga Es, Jacq Inwood, Micaela Leal and special guests. Supported by Magdalena Rahman & Waqas Akhtar – honest and diverse viewpoints, respectful conversations about the things that actually matter — from immigration, mental-health and housing through to the cost-of-living, parenting and education. MORE DIALOGUE > LESS DIVISION.
Focussed on exploring perspectives, understanding the real issues and bringing more humanness to uncovering common ground with practical outcomes. In a time when debate often feels divisive or toxic, the ‘Sussex & Surrey Soapbox’ podcast is about disagreeing better, listening more, and reconnecting people with the power and relevance of local conversation.
Latest Episode:
Mental Health - Are You Okay? The Question That Saves Lives
One in four adults will face a mental health problem each year — but statistics rarely capture the quieter reality: the loneliness, the slow slide, and the moment someone realises they’re no longer coping. The latest Sussex & Surrey Soapbox podcast opens up a frank conversation about mental health in Sussex & Surrey, and why it is showing up more in everyday life, workplaces and friendships.
Recorded at the Red Lion & Cellar Room in Betchworth, the episode brings together lived experience, professional insight and practical support.
Maureen Jones, a psychotherapeutic counsellor, shares what she is seeing more of: anxiety, depression, isolation after Covid, and a growing sense of disconnection and not belonging. The discussion explores how mental health struggles often appear in subtle ways before reaching crisis point.
Some of the early warning signs discussed include:
- Broken sleep
- Irritability and emotional overwhelm
- Comfort eating
- Zoning out or struggling to stay present
- Feeling emotionally numb
- Withdrawing from routines and relationships
At the centre of the conversation is one simple but powerful message: asking “Are you okay?” — and genuinely meaning it — can make all the difference.
The episode also features Sean Orr & Graham Dearing from Menshare Listening Group, speaking candidly about his journey. From the pressures of school and a high-pressure finance career, to reaching a point where “buckle down and work harder” stopped working, Graham reflects on the reality many people silently face.
The roundtable also explores the wider picture — including barriers to workplace support, fears around privacy, and the need for proper follow-up and long-term talking therapy. It also touches on NHS mental health crisis care and the importance of support before people reach breaking point.
For anyone looking for support, the episode highlights Menshare Listening Group and Sistershare, while Maureen also shares practical guidance on finding properly qualified private counselling through the Counselling Directory.
Listen to the full conversation: Mental Health: Are You Okay? The Question That Saves Lives https://soapbox.buzzsprout.com/ Join us and have your say! Sussex & Surrey Soapbox: Facebook Group
Other recent episodes include:
- ️Why Don’t We Vote? The Local Politics Reality Check
- The 2026 Classroom
- Student Loan Injustice
- International Women’s Day Special
Each episode shares the same ethos: real conversations, grounded in lived experience, about the issues shaping Sussex & Surrey.