All in the Mind

Many of us will experience mental health problems at some point in our lives – and it is often the help and support of those around us that can make all the difference to how we cope and recover. The BBC Radio 4 All in the Mind Awards recognises the unsung heroes who have helped make that difference. Claudia Hammond meets the finalists and announces the winners in the All in the Mind Awards ceremony, recorded with a live audience at the BBC Radio Theatre in London. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Lorna Stewart, Hannah Fisher & Gerry Holt Content Editor: Glyn Tansley Awards Coordinators: Jana Bennett-Holesworth & Siobhan Maguire If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line.

Is curiosity good for us, or should we learn a lesson from what curiosity did to the cat? And why does curiosity drive some people to explore the ends of the earth and beyond, while others just really aren’t very curious at all? As a journalist and author, Claudia Hammond has turned curiosity into a profession. She invites a panel of people for whom curiosity is also at the centre of what they do to discuss the psychology of curiosity in front of an audience at the Cheltenham Science Festival. They are... Tim Peake – astronaut, test pilot and author. His lifelong curiosity took him to live for six months on the International Space station. While he was there he famously ran the London Marathon on a treadmill and he was the first British astronaut to walk in space. Gosia Goclowska - a lecturer in the department of psychology at the University of Bath. She researches some of the more unusual emotions we experience such as curiosity, awe and surprise. And Matthias Gruber - an associate professor of psychology at the University of Cardiff. His research focuses on the neuroscience of curiosity and learning. Producer: Lorna Stewart Production Coordinator: Jana Holesworth Sound Engineers: Gayl Gordon and Giles Aspen

This week is all about twins. On today's programme we'll hear from a very special pair who are through to the final of the All in the Mind Awards, which celebrates those who have made a real difference to people’s mental health. We'll hear how the special bond between Lisa and Rose Betts really mattered when Lisa was going through a very tough time with her mental health. And the insight Lisa and Rose give us into their world got us thinking about the unique science of twins. What is it that fascinates us so much - and what can twins teach us about ourselves and the human experience? Claudia is joined in the studio by Daryl O’Connor, professor of psychology at the University of Leeds, and handily a twin himself, to dive headfirst into the evidence on twin relationships. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Gerry Holt (a twin) & Hannah Fisher Studio Manager: Tim Heffer Editor: Glyn Tansley Production coordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth (has twins) If you are suffering distress or despair, details of help and support are available at BBC Action Line.

Do you feel like you’re flourishing? If you’ve not heard that term before, it’s not just about wellbeing, it’s about your whole life being good. Guest psychologist Dr Peter Olusoga joins Claudia in the studio to discuss the results of the Global Flourishing Study, a huge new study of more than 200,000 people in 22 countries. What are the key takeaways on how we might help ourselves to flourish? Pete also brings the science on a new psychological term – ‘lemonading’. It’s all about bringing a playful approach to life to help us cope in difficult times. And we reveal more of our All in the Mind Awards finalists ahead of this month’s ceremony, including the story of a lifesaving breastfeeding group, and a nurse who was a rock for someone going through difficult psychiatric treatment. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Gerry Holt & Hannah Fisher Studio Manager: Phil Lander Editor: Glyn Tansley

What's going on in your brain when you experience an 'aha!' moment? Imagine you've been stuck on a problem for ages, but then the answer suddenly comes to you out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning. Claudia Hammond is joined in the studio by professor of cognitive neuroscience Sophie Scott to understand how these 'aha' moments happen. Sophie also brings us her own research into contagious laughter and why some types of laughter are more likely to give us the giggles than others. And Claudia meets another All in the Mind Awards finalist. This time it's Flynn Mellor, nominated by his mum Janine for his unwavering care whilst she was unwell. Claudia visits the pair at home and hears from Janine how Flynn's support saved her life. The All in the Mind Awards ceremony takes place at the BBC Radio Theatre in London on 18 June, and there is a ballot for free tickets which closes at midday on 31 May. You can enter online by going to www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows. If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, including urgent support, a list of organisations that can help is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline. Presenter: Claudia Hammond Producers: Sophie Ormiston, Hannah Fisher and Gerry Holt Studio Manager: Emma Harth Editor: Glyn Tansley