A film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture that tells the story of Mental Health Nurse Emily Ekong and her struggles with her own mental health. While on a walk near the town of Denholme she remembers a close friend who recently died by suicide and talks candidly about her challenges with mental wellness. However, she is also positive about the contributions she makes in her job at Lynfield Mount Hospital, an NHS mental health facility in Bradford....

A film produced by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi for Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture that tells the story of Mental Health Nurse Emily Ekong and her struggles with her own mental health. While on a walk near the town of Denholme she remembers a close friend who recently died by suicide and talks candidly about her challenges with mental wellness. However, she is also positive about the contributions she makes in her job at Lynfield Mount Hospital, an NHS mental health facility in Bradford. Over the following title a young woman playing the harp. Title: This film includes real-life accounts of mental health experiences, being sectioned and hearing voices, which some viewers may find sensitive or emotionally challenging Emily Going for a country walk near Denholme Emily talks about her friend of thirty years Ben who died the previous year and about his struggles with mental health. She goes onto explain how much he liked this walk and how noticeable it is without him. At home she opened a set of curtains and sits at the table reading while talking in voiceover about working Lynfield Mount. As she walks along a corridor at the hospital she talks about the shock people feel when they hear she works there. In a room she speaks with a female patient changing to a young man sitting on his bed in his room and Emily explaining that many of the patients at Lynfield Mount have been sectioned. Over a montage of her working and speaking with other members of staff at the hospital she talks about how Lynfield Mount does a lot of good care and how she helps organise various activities for patient such as cooking classes and gardening as well as creative arts and music. Along another corridor a member of staff walks past a large mural painted on the wall. As she continues her walk Emily talks about how she started hearing voices and her fear that she would lose her job. As someone plays a game of chess at Lynfield Mount Emily talks about going through trauma and taking two years of work. Standing in a patient room she talks about being an inpatient herself six time but not at Lynfield Mount. As she walks along a corridor lined with artworks she talks about why she sees therapy as important. Emily moves on to talk about her experience of returning to work and the support she received from her managers and colleagues. As she speaks, she sits at a table making a tree mural containing some of her thoughts. She talks about her decision to be open about her illness and how, in the end, this was the right decision. As she walks along another corridor she talks about the struggles people have opening up and the stigma that surrounds mental health. As she continues her country walk, she talks about the pressure she feels to feel okay and that she still struggles with her mental health. Standing in her garden she smiles at the camera and talks about sometimes painting a smile on her face and needing to get on with life. A montage of the garden at Lynfield Mount with Emily talking in voiceover about the priority for her is to remain stable and not let her team down. As she passes through a gate Emily points out a tree in the distance explaining that this is the destination. Describing it as ‘Ben’s Tree’ she talks about why it was important to her friend and about coming her on his birthday with friends and family. She hopes he is looking down on her feeling ‘health and happy.’ Standing looking out over a nearby Doe Park Reservoir Emily is asked if she is happy? She comments that today she is as the sun is out and the film ends on Emily’s smiling face soaking up the sun and the leaves rustling in the tree. Title: To find support for mental health visit Healthy Minds website healthyminds.services Call Guide-Line for confidential, emotional support 08001 884 884 For urgent mental health support, call First Response 0800 952 1181 Or, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option Credit Directed by Pishdaad Modaressi Chahardehi Produced by Frankie Wolfe-Cooke Lead Contributor Emily Ekong Title: Special thanks Hazera Uddin, Elisa Morris, Mathew Cook, Sally Hebdon, Annette Whomack-Brown, Katie Eacret, Simon and Kay Comber Lynfield Mount Title: Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Creative Director Shanaz Gulzar Executive Producer Annabel Grundy Mental Health Engagement Lead Sara Robinson Bradford District and Craven Mind Head of Communications and Engagement Hayley Smith Director of Adult Services Heather Butcher Programme Director for Healthy Minds Sasha Bhat Head of Mental Health Joanne Tooby Advisor Catherine Schofield End title: Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture. Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust. Healthy Minds. Bradford District and Craven Mind