Radio DJ launch health podcasts for teens

You can find links to all the Health Uncovered podcasts here.

A new series of podcasts aims to get more young people in-tune with their health and wellbeing. Compass helped produce the candid discussion programs which are hosted by BBC Radio One presenter and actor Cel Spellman.

Sexually transmitted infections, self-harming, depression, drugs and more are on the agenda, as Cel lifts the lid on teenage health issues. Young people from Warwickshire speak honestly about their experiences of different health problems which they say can be embarrassing, uncomfortable and sometimes misunderstood.

The ten shows each focus on a different topic from online bullying to sexual health, body image to mental health, plus other threats that affect the smartphone generation, like online grooming and pressure caused by social media. The team behind the 20 minute episodes hope that young people going through difficulties may find it easier to open up and talk if they can hear peers discussing the same troubles.

Designed particularly for people who like to listen through headphones whilst on the move, users can search “Health Uncovered” in any popular podcasting app, like iTunes, to download or stream the podcasts to mobile devices.

Whilst young people from across the country are the stars of the shows, the health professionals that support them, like school nurses and adolescent mental health teams, helped to bring the project together. They were on hand at each recording session to provide expert solutions, support and understanding.

Presenter Cel Spellman, who hosts the Sunday afternoon slot on BBC Radio One and stars in ITV drama Cold Feet, met with participants in five different UK towns and cities to make the programs. The round-the-table chats were revealing, amusing, usually slightly rude and often a little emotional.

“I feel pretty privileged to have heard such honest and touching personal stories”, says Cel.  “Young people today have to deal with all the classic teenage worries and troubles, but it doesn’t end there. With social media, current affairs and online, this digital generation have much more to deal with.  Sometimes these sort of problems can be misunderstood by our peers who say we’ve never had it so easy, so get on with it.”

Cel feels passionate about encouraging young people to ask access help with health issues. He says “they have so much to think about, it can sometimes feel like it’s all too much. It’s important young people get support and, most importantly, that they can listen and talk to one another – this podcast series gives them a voice and a platform to be heard”.  

He has spoken out in the past about his own challenges, dealing with bullies at school, saying “I preferred to deal with problems on my own, but there comes a breaking point.” 

The idea was created by the NHS working in partnership with the Audio Impressions team at production company This Is Distorted. They are exploring different ways of helping more young health service users feel comfortable talking about their health.

“Young people listen to more audio than other age group and we know they’re more likely to choose podcasts than listen on demand radio shows” says project manager Jimmy Endicott. “One in ten people aged 15 and over listen to at least one podcast every week, so that’s more than 800,000 young weekly listeners.  It’s a great platform for helping people – one we actually haven’t much used yet in healthcare.”

The company behind Audio Impressions specialises in creating compelling audio entertainment for young people, usually working with the UK’s biggest music radio stations and some of the World’s best-recognized artists and DJs to produce chart-topping podcasts with millions of listeners.

Warwickshire School Health & Wellbeing Service and Warwickshire Young Persons Substance Misuse Service provided by Compass