News

Today we announced that ITV will have a new Mental Health Advisory Group, chaired by Ruth Davidson, MSP.

Ruth will join Paul Farmer, CEO of mental health charity, Mind, Emma Thomas, CEO of Young Minds and Billy Watson, CEO of Scottish Association for Mental Health, on the advisory group, which will provide guidance and support on all aspects of our approach to mental health and wellbeing.

The Mental Health Advisory Group will meet four times a year to bring ideas, feedback and provide practical advice, which we’ll seek to reflect in our policies and decision-making.

This announcement follows the launch of Britain Get Talking last week, the first initiative in the ITV Campaign for Mental Wellness, our five year project in partnership with the charity Mind.

Television can have a huge impact on people’s lives and on the life of the nation. Creating a culture which supports the mental health of one another is so important and ITV and STV’s position means they can make a real difference in working towards this goal. I’m excited to be involved in ITV and STV’s efforts to bring mental wellbeing to the centre of our national conversation. It is so important to talk. The advisory group will have a huge role in setting the broadcasters’ overall mental health strategy and I look forward to working with ITV and STV to make a genuine difference to people’s lives. Ruth Davidson, Member of the Scottish Parliament

Ruth’s background in media and politics and her courage to talk publicly about mental health in her own life, make her absolutely the right person to chair ITV’s Mental Health Advisory Group. Ruth will bring energy, passion and judgement to a hugely important role and alongside the new members we’re announcing today, Paul Farmer from Mind, Emma Thomas from Young Minds and Billy Watson from SAMH, will help ITV and STV to ensure we deliver on our top priority: caring for the mental health and wellness of our own people, those who make and take part in our programmes and, of course, the millions of people who watch our programmes. Carolyn McCall, CEO of ITV

In addition to the group members announced today, more members will be appointed to bring further expertise in employee mental health, professional insight as well as viewer representation to the group.

Find out more about our Encouraging better mental & physical health priority.