Hosted by staff nurse John-Barry Waldron, who has worked at St Andrew's Healthcare for 15 years, 'On the Ward' challenges some of the myths and taboos around complex mental illness in the UK today, as it explores what really happens behind the walls of a secure psychiatric hospital.
Kathleen looks towards her future as she prepares to leave St Andrew's Healthcare
S3 Ep7 ***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as psychosis, extreme self-harm and discussions around complex mental which some listeners may find triggering. For four years Kathleen has been a patient at St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton but after receiving treatment for some serious self-harming incidents she is finally ready to move on to her community placement on a farm. Support the show
26 Jul 2022
S3 : EP6 - Yusuf finds that St Andrew's is nothing like he imagined
S3 Ep6 ***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as psychosis, troubled childhood and discussions around complex mental which some listeners may find triggering. Yusuf came to St Andrew’s Healthcare during the pandemic and was pleasantly surprised to find out it was nothing like the sort of place he had imagined. He now spends his time playing the keyboard, swimming, studying for his maths GCSE and volunteering in a local charity shop.&nbs...
19 Jul 2022
S3 : EP5 - Saffron has turned a corner and plans for the future
S3 Ep5 ***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as self-harm and eating disorders which some listeners may find triggering. Saffron has been in mental health services for a decade, but the 19-year-old has turned a corner while at St Andrew’s Healthcare and is determined this will be her last time in a psychiatric hospital. Now, she is focusing on making plans for the future, which include going to college and training to work within the field ...
12 Jul 2022
S3 : EP4 Sedona takes us on grounds leave
S3 Ep4 ***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as self-harm, psychosis, depression which some listeners may find triggering. Sedona keeps busy during her stay at St Andrew’s Healthcare by making up care packages for children who are also staying in hospital. She also has a lot of hobbies such as playing cello, swimming and tennis. During this episode she explains how the procedure behind taking leave from the hospital as an inpatient wor...
5 Jul 2022
S3 : EP3 | Mark - autobiographical music therapy
***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as self-harm and depression which some listeners may find triggering. Meet Mark who has been on a recovery journey using autobiographical music therapy during his stay at the secure psychiatric hospital St Andrew’s Healthcare in Essex. During the episode he takes listeners through his record collection, explains how music has helped him and even takes part in a jamming session with his music therap...
28 Jun 2022
S3 : EP2 | Julie's bipolar recovery journey
***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as suicide, rapid cycling bipolar, depression and death which some listeners may find triggering. Julie has been a patient at St Andrew’s Healthcare for nearly three years. She has found solace in maintaining the garden there and has become very attached to the mindful activity. However, as the episode moves on, Julie discloses she has been given a community placement elsewhere and she leaves...
21 Jun 2022
S3 : EP1 | Vicky's schizophrenia recovery journey
***Trigger warning*** Please be advised this episode contains some key, adult themes such as substance abuse, child abuse, anger and psychosis which some listeners may find triggering. Join Vicky who is getting ready to be discharged from the secure psychiatric hospital St Andrew’s Healthcare in Essex. During the episode she takes presenter and staff nurse John-Barry Waldron to her voluntary job at a nearby wood workshop and bravely discusses how she has overcome her mental health...
8 Mar 2021
S2 : EP5 | Education
**Trigger warning - This episode contains a discussion about suicide.** As the schools go back after lockdown 3, John explores what education is available to St Andrew's patients, and how this can help with their recovery. If you like John our host, are interested in developing a career in healthcare you can consider taking healthcare courses as an introduction to your further education. Support the show
7 Jan 2021
S2 : EP4 | The Family Episode
**Trigger warning - this episode contains a discussion about self-harm and suicidal thoughts.** We're back with our latest episode of our award-winning podcast! This episode is very special, as for the first time ever, we speak to a newly discharged patient and their carer, as they talk about a wonderful story of recovery, hope, and inspiration. Not to miss! Support the show
30 Nov 2020
S2 : EP3 | Off The Ward, Offending and Mental Health
In this special edition of our award-winning podcast, we go Off the Ward, and speak to those working and accessing mental health treatment in the criminal justice system. Find out how the support which St Andrew's is providing is helping address mental health issues and offending behaviours. We also explore whether mental health support can actually reduce crime, as well as looking at the stigma which people on probation may face. Support the show
22 Oct 2020
S2 : EP2 | Social Life
In this episode, Staff Nurse and host John Waldron talks about the social aspect of mental health, and how social life can affect people inside and outside the hospital. Join John, a former patient, and a social worker, as they discuss the challenges and benefits that a social life can have on your mental health. Support the show
8 Oct 2020
S2 : EP1 | Surviving a Global Pandemic
We're back with series two of On the Ward. A lot has changed, the ward has gone through a global pandemic, making life harder for both patients and staff. In this episode we hear from a staff member who contracted Covid and ended up in hospital, and a patient, about how she coped. Support the show
23 Apr 2020
On the Ward: Lockdown
St Andrew’s Healthcare is back with a one-off special exploring what life is like for patients and staff on a secure mental health ward during the COVID-19 outbreak. From being unable to go out, or see family face-to-face, to staff having to wear PPE, the episode, hosted by staff nurse John Barry Waldron, explores the additional challenges and anxieties that the virus is bringing to life in a secure psychiatric hospital. During the course of the 40 minute episode, entitled ‘Lockdown’, John s...
24 Jan 2020
S1:Ep5 | On the Ward: Your questions answered
In this episode, Staff Nurse John-Barry Waldron seeks to answer some of the burning questions which listeners have sent in – which cover everything from electric shock therapy, to the checks which happen in the hospital. Healthcare Assistant Michael Mullally, along with the patient featured in episode 1, were on hand to answer the queries. Support the show
29 Oct 2019
S1: Ep4 | On the Ward: Moving On
Episode 4 of the On the Ward podcast reveals what it’s like to move on from a mental health hospital and return to life in the community. It features two patient voices, who soon hope to be discharged from St Andrew’s. One of the patients featured has been in secure services for more than 10 years and is soon to be discharged to go a rehab facility. “I’m quite fortunate I’m going to be in the community,” she tells John-Barry Waldron, the staff nurse who hosts the podcast. “I have so muc...
20 Sept 2019
S1: Ep3 | On the Ward: Music Therapy
Episode 3 focuses on music and how important this is in helping patients through their recovery journeys. During the podcast we hear some original songs, written and performed by our patients. One patient opens up to the host of the podcast and nurse, John-Barry Waldron, about her six months at St Andrew's, and how our team have helped her to make her music. The patient also performs her song, 'Gamechanger' which features the lyric “I've got history, you don't know, time to move on, time to...
6 Sept 2019
S1: Ep2 | On the Ward: Fit Mind
Episode 2 of 'On the Ward: Fit Mind' focuses on sport and exercise and how important this is in helping patients through their mental health journey. We hear from one patient who has cannabis psychosis- a mental health problem that causes people to perceive or interpret things differently from those around them. The patient opens up to nurse, and host of the podcast, John-Barry Waldron, about how frightening his condition is and how football and his love of Man City has helped him through so...
27 Aug 2019
S1: Ep1 | On the Ward: Life
A unique five-part podcast, hosted by staff nurse John-Barry Waldron, which challenges some of the myths and taboos around mental illness in the UK today, as it provides listeners with a rare look into what life is like for patients and staff living and working in a secure mental healthcare hospital. In Episode 1 of ‘On the Ward’ we hear from one patient in his early 40s, who has been living at St Andrew’s for more than two years. During the episode the patient speaks candidly about the stre...
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