Mental health
The Churchill Fellowship
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Mental health

About this theme

This theme covers topics relating to community-based approaches to mental health. Many Fellows over the years have undertaken projects in this area including as part of our three-year programme developed in partnership with the Mental Health Foundation which ran in 2016-2018. Partnership stories

Blogs & conversations Scaling Suicide Prevention: Lessons for the UK from India, the USA, and Canada

In memory of his friend Olly, who died by suicide in 2017, Rory Keddie set out to explore how medical students can be better prepared to support people in crisis. His Fellowship took him to India, the USA, and Canada, where he learned from innovative approaches using technology, policy change, and university frameworks. Building on his work with the Dr SAMS project, which has already trained over 2,800 UK medical students, Rory is now working to expand training and engage policymakers so suicide prevention becomes a core part of every doctor’s education.

By Rory Keddie, 2025

Blogs & conversations Where the Churchill Fellowship magic happens

Tim Woodhouse travelled to Iceland, Slovenia, and the USA to explore how to reduce domestic abuse-related suicides. Here, he reflects not only on the people and projects he encountered during his travels, but on the impact that followed – from giving over 100 talks to frontline teams and securing national media coverage, to influencing policy discussions and beginning a PhD. As Tim writes, “the years after you return home is actually where the power of the Churchill Fellowship can kick in – and where all the magic can happen.”

By Tim Woodhouse, 2025

Blogs & conversations Giving Suicide a Language

I grew up without the words to talk about suicide – and didn’t speak about my own bereavement until my forties. My Fellowship set me on a path to change that, taking me to India and Canada to explore suicide prevention in communities like my own. Since then, I’ve joined a global network of preventionists, trained in early intervention, and started sharing what I’ve learned – from working with therapists to leading workshops with young people to help open up conversations.

By Anoo Bhalay, 2025

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