This week, we are launching a new monthly tweet chat called #MentalHealthJukebox. It will take place on Twitter at 9pm on the last Saturday of every month.

The Mental Elf has become the go to place for people to find easy to digest evidence-based summaries of the latest research. We will continue to do this and indeed we’re adding lots of exciting functionality to the website over the coming months to make it easier and more fun to keep up to date with the latest high quality evidence. However, we’re also really committed to creating digital spaces where people can safely discuss mental health issues, and it’s clear that a research blog isn’t always the best place to do this!

This time last year I was in a very dark place. I was going through a severe episode of depression and also suffering from debilitating bouts of anxiety, which had a huge impact on my work and personal life. I’m very lucky to have had amazing support from family, friends and colleagues, along with lots of help from the NHS. A combination of antidepressants, psychotherapy, exercise, diet, mindfulness and music has helped me. It’s impossible to say which has helped me most, but the music has undoubtedly helped me in a unique way, and I have been compelled to share that with people.

So how will #MentalHealthJukebox work?

1. Each month we will announce a musical theme and ask everyone to nominate music around this theme. This month the theme is Music That Makes You Happy. You can tweet your suggestions to #MentalHealthJukebox, ideally with a link to the music on YouTube. We’d also love to hear why this piece of music is important to you.
2. There will be a guest DJ each month, in charge of the woodland turntables. I’m donning the headphones for this inaugural event, but I’ll be inviting my mental health friends and colleagues from Twitter to lead the way for future chats.
3. The DJ will create a an hour-long YouTube playlist from the suggested music and add something of their own too.
4. We will all listen to the playlist together during the chat. It will be a simple way to share meaningful music and talk about our own mental health.

Join us now!

Please note: the #MentalHealthJukebox does not accept old pound coins that are no longer legal tender. That’s because it’s absolutely free to play a piece of music that you love in our tweet chat! Please share it with us now by tweeting your suggestion to #MentalHealthJukebox.