Belonging with Poppy Jaman
Poppy Jaman OBE shares her personal experiences with mental health and discrimination, and how it’s shaped her mission to leave a legacy of real change.
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Poppy Jaman OBE’s life experience as a woman of colour and first-hand battle with mental health is the foundation of her passion for creating real change in the mental health space.
At the tender age of 17, Poppy found herself in an arranged marriage. Three years later, she was a young mother, grappling with post-natal depression and anxiety.
The experience was isolating and terrifying for Poppy, a proud third-generation British Bengali woman. She overcame these obstacles in early life to become an incredibly successful founder, CEO, entrepreneur, and globally recognised authority on workplace mental health.
In Episode 12 of Open Minded, the internationally respected mental health advocate and national policy advisor shares her wisdom gleaned from lived experience and professional life with Sir John Kirwan. They dive into topics including racism and trauma, mental health, and workplace wellbeing.
Watch the full video interview
“I was diagnosed with postnatal depression and I genuinely thought that my life was over because I had the same stigmatising views of mental illness that most people in society have.”
- Poppy Jaman OBE
TRIGGER WARNING: This podcast touches on themes of post-natal depression and racisim.
If you or someone you know is in need of support, please contact Beyond Blue in Australia on 1800 512 348 and for New Zealand, you can free call or text 1737 to talk. These support lines are free, and available 24/7.
Who is Poppy Jaman?
Poppy Jaman is the Founding CEO of Mental Health First Aid and Director of Re-balance. She is highly respected internationally on workplace wellbeing and a champion of diversity, working constantly to diminish inequality and tackle social issues both globally and at home.
Poppy’s success was hard-won. She overcame many obstacles in early life, and in her chat with JK shared that getting her first job was a turning point in her mental health journey. She also discussed how recovery wasn’t part of the mental health narrative at that time, and that she felt that her diagnosis was a lifetime sentence.
In 2009, Poppy founded the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England. What started as a small social enterprise quickly turned into a fast-growing and commercially successful organisation. It was recognised as one of the fastest-growing SMEs in Europe by the Financial Times in 2017. She stepped down in 2017 to focus on her role as the CEO of the City Mental Health Alliance.
Listen to Episode 12 to find out more about her incredible story, how she looks after her mental wellbeing, and soak up all of her professional wisdom and advice.
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