Hannah explores the links between social isolation and mental health through several lenses: from pioneering virtual reality research to on the ground innovative social interventions. She will discuss the proposed mechanisms that link social factors and mental health difficulties, and the research that this is based on. Hannah’s clinical experience and local community activities will help to bring to life examples of the importance of fostering social interaction amongst the people in our borough who experience isolation, and will help you to think of ideas of how you can join the cause.

Hannah Reidy is a psychology graduate and has worked in mental health for six years. She has worked as Social Inclusion Worker, and also as a researcher developing a new intervention approach for people with mental health difficulties to increase their access to and value from their social network.

She is currently in her final year of her PhD completing a doctoral thesis examining the mechanisms underlying paranoia and psychosis using Virtual Reality.

She is also the founder of Wandsworth-based SW18 Club, a group for young adults living with mental health difficulties aiming to reduce their social isolation and increase friendships and social activities. This activity forms part of the work of Wandsworth and Westminster Mind, a charity which she is also a trustee.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx