Last week we welcomed special guest speaker Dr Nick Prior, CEO and Co-Founder of Minderful, to our Senior School. He hosted an assembly and gave a fascinating presentation on the subject of mental fitness.
Nick is an NHS doctor specialising in mental health who lives with a long-term diagnosis of bipolar type II. He talked about his own struggle maintaining mental fitness and his desire to help others suffering from similar concerns by creating the Minderful app.
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He touched on the science and research involved in developing the app and also explained the five-pillar approach to maintaining mental fitness, above. Nick also explained the Pint Pot Model, what happens when the 'pint' overflows and how mental fitness is dependent on three core factors: biological, psychological and social.
Afterwards he participated in a Q&A session with Sixth Form Psychology students in the cafe. They asked him about a range of therapies and treatments that they are studying including CBT and the more controversial use of ECT in more severe, hospitalised cases. "It was inspiring to hear Nick talk about how he has coped with a long-term bipolar diagnosis and how he is using his knowledge and experience to help others," says Upper Sixth Former and Psychology student Eloise.
It was inspiring to hear Nick talk about how he has coped with a long-term bipolar diagnosis and how he is using his knowledge and experience to help others
Eloise - Upper Sixth Former and Psychology student
As well as answering questions, Nick was also keen to ask a few of his own. He wanted to know more about how Harrodian pupils look after their own personal mental fitness and asked the Sixth Formers to be his focus group by trialling the app and providing him with feedback.
Sixth Former Joe was keen to comment. 'I can see how beneficial Minderful is because it is backed up by scientific research. Personally I believe it is important to stick to the facts when looking at mental health...there are lots of other apps out there that aren't backed by scientific research and as a consequence they tend to overpromise,' he observes.
I can see how beneficial Minderful is because it is backed up by scientific research. Personally I believe it is really important to stick to the facts when looking at mental health...
Joe - Upper Sixth Former and Psychology student
Very kindly, Nick has offered all Harrodian pupils and staff a FREE 6 month trial of the Minderful app which can be accessed by the following codes:
FREE SIX MONTH TRIAL OF MINDERFUL APP
If you are keen to give your feedback about the Minderful app, then please email website@harrodian.com with your comments.
