A new BBC and Open University co-production featuring multi-platinum-selling singer-songwriter, James Arthur will air on BBC Three at 9pm on Sunday 13 November.
James Arthur: Out of Our Minds follows James at a crossroads in his life. After being propelled to stardom following his X Factor win in 2012, James experienced a decade of highs, but also desperate lows. He suffered from anxiety, depression and severe panic attacks, and at his worst, also considered taking his own life.
Now 34, James is wondering if returning to the anti-depressants he has rejected might finally give him peace of mind. This documentary explores the roots of his fragile mental health, as he searches for ways to cope.
Academic consultant on the programme, Dr Martin Robb, Senior Lecturer in health and social care at the OU helped advise and shape the one-off programme.
Dr Robb, commented:
Dr Martin Robb
“I was pleased to be asked to work as academic consultant on ‘James Arthur: Out of our Minds’, as the topic of men’s mental health is one that’s close to my heart, and something I’ve written a good deal about, particularly as a result of my research with young men.
“Despite 1 in 8 men in the UK experiencing mental health problems, and men being far more likely than women to die by suicide, men still seem to find it hard to talk about their mental health and are much less likely to seek help for their problems.
“This programme is valuable because it shows one young man, James Arthur, searching for the roots of his anxiety and depression, and looking for ways to move beyond them. Although he’s a famous singer, the problems he’s faced are similar to those experienced by many young men.
“Some of the most powerful scenes in the film are where we see James talking with other men about their struggles with mental health, and we see the real value in men being able to share their experiences with each other and build supportive relationships with each other.
“I’m really pleased with the way the programme has turned out, and I’m proud of the animation – ‘Man Up or Open Up’ – that we developed for the OU Connect page associated with the programme, which I’d recommend for anyone who wants to explore these issues further.”
Further resources like the ‘Man Up or Open Up’ animation, which was created in partnership with men’s mental health charity, AlrightMate? is available to watch in full on the OU’s Broadcast & Partnerships site, OU Connect.
James Arthur: Out of Our Minds will air on BBC Three at 9pm on Sunday 13 November. It will also be available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
This programme was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, with particular relevance to BSc (Honours) Nursing (Mental Health), BA (Honours) Health and Social Care and Social Work courses.
- Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships
- Academic Consultant: Dr Martin Robb
- Media Fellow: Dr Erica Borgstrom
- Broadcast Project Manager: Matthew Ray
- Supporting online content: Chris Belson
