Our Ambassadors

Mind's Ambassadors support our President by promoting our work as widely as possible and encouraging more people to support Mind. They are committed to our cause and to raising awareness of mental health problems.

Anne-Marie

Anne-Marie is a singer and songwriter. She has been open about her experiences of anxiety and has previously supported a number of campaigns, including Time to Talk Day.

As a Mind Ambassador, Anne-Marie hopes to improve understanding of mental health problems and raise awareness of the support services Mind runs at both a national and local level. In July 2020, Anne Marie spoke to local Mind service user Aashni via video call, discussing their experiences of being diagnosed with anxiety at a young age and Aashni’s experience of using Mind’s peer support services, where people share their own experiences to help each other.

Frankie Bridge

Frankie Bridge is a singer, songwriter and TV personality. Frankie chose to support Mind after opening up about her experiences of anxiety, depression and panic attacks back in May 2012. Having initially dealt with these issues in silence, Frankie is keen to support us in making sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.

Frankie has leant her support to a number of Mind’s campaigns including Time to Talk Day and Move for Mind. During Mental Health Awareness Week 2021, Frankie guest-edited the Lifestyle section of Metro Online and penned an opinion piece highlighting Mind’s ‘Join the Fight’ campaign and sharing her reasons for supporting Mind’s work.

Beverley Callard

Beverley Callard is an actress and played the role of Liz McDonald in Coronation Street for over 20 years.

Beverley has been a great support to Mind over the last few years, speaking out both on TV and in different publications to raise awareness of mental health. It's a subject that's close to Beverley's heart as she's lived with depression for many years.

As an Ambassador, Beverley has been a dedicated supporter of Time to Talk Day and 2021 saw her support the campaign alongside her canine companions, Arthur and Elsie, sharing tips about having a conversation about mental health. Beverley has also offered her support to our local Mind network, particularly in the North West with local Minds such as Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind.

Alastair Campbell

Alastair Campbell is a writer, communicator and strategist best known for his role as Tony Blair's Director of Communications.

Alastair has written and talked extensively about his experience of depression, creating BBC documentaries entitled Cracking Up and Depression and Me. His books All In The Mind, The Happy Depressive and Living Better all deal with mental health issues.

A relentless campaigner against mental health stigma, particularly for Time to Change, Alastair regularly talks to the media about his experiences of mental health and the importance of speaking out.

Clarke Carlisle

Clarke Carlisle is a former premier league footballer, Sky Sports pundit and PFA (Professional Footballers Association) Chairman.

Clarke was diagnosed with depression when he was playing professional football and, by becoming a Mind ambassador, hopes to spread the message that there needs to be the understanding, freedom and awareness to address mental health in the same way as physical health. Clarke has been pivotal in helping to launch Mind's sport report 'Performance Matters: Mental Health in Elite Sport' which details how sports associations can better support the mental health of professional sportspeople.

Clarke, and his wife Carrie, won the Speaking Out Award at our Mind Media Awards in 2018. This award was given to Clarke in recognition of the significant impact he has had by sharing his own experience of mental health problems.

Fearne Cotton

Fearne Cotton is an author and TV and radio presenter.

Fearne first publicly opened up about her experience of depression in 2017 before writing HAPPY, a book about finding joy in the everyday and letting go of perfection. Since then, she has released her follow up book CALM and has started her podcast HAPPY PLACE, in which she interviews various guests about their life experiences, including Mind’s President, Stephen Fry. Fearne has also launched her Happy Place Festival, previously welcoming Mind to host a pop-up stand at the live event and supporting Mind through the virtual event in 2020.

Fearne has been a dedicated supporter of Mind since becoming an Ambassador, supporting major campaigns such as RED January and Time to Talk Day. She has also hosted our Mind Media Awards, visited a local Mind to learn about Mind’s work within the community and supported Our Frontline, which Mind is proud to be a part of.

George Ezra

George Ezra is a singer, songwriter, musician and podcaster.

George first started supporting Mind after seeing friends and family affected by mental health problems. He then began experiencing anxiety himself after returning home from an intensive touring schedule and started encouraging his fans to donate to us throughout his UK tour in 2017. He has recently also opened up about his diagnosis of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) on his podcast 'Phone a Friend with George Ezra and Ollie MN'.

George has held a number of fundraising shows for Mind at London's Union Chapel and the Royal Albert Hall, raising over £170,000 for Mind to help fund our vital services, and was announced as an Ambassador for Mind in July 2019 in recognition of his outstanding dedication to our cause.

The BRIT Awards winner for Best British Male Solo Artist has also supported various initiatives including Time to Talk Day, Mind's ground-breaking partnership with the EFL and, most recently, raised over £12,000 by taking part in Mind’s exercise challenge, Move for Mind.

Matt Johnson

Matt Johnson is a TV personality and presenter, best known for his work with both BBC and ITV.

Matt experienced depression following a series of difficult events in his 20s, and wanted to share his personal story to help others in the same situation. Since becoming an ambassador in 2014, he has spoken openly about his journey within the media, including his most recent documentary Matt Johnson: Depression and me. He has also raised vital funds for Mind through various ventures, including participating in the Mind 3000s trek, in which he was the Welsh team captain.

Matt has also created The #CheckIn Journal, following on from his successful social media campaign, which encouraged social media users to check in with their emotions daily. A percentage of the profits from the book will fundraise for Mind.

Nicholas Pinnock

Nicholas Pinnock is a film, television and theatre actor.

Nicholas first experienced depression when he was young, but at the time put it down to teenage moods. It wasn't until he faced a mental health crisis several years ago that he finally sought treatment in the form of psychotherapy. Nicholas realised that the more he opened up about his mental health, the more it transpired that so many other people were going through the same thing.

By becoming an ambassador for Mind in 2013, Nicholas has continued to help spread the message even further that it's ok to talk about mental health. His dedicated support has seen him act as a judge for the Mind Media Awards, champion campaigns such as Mind's partnership with Channel 4 for Mental Health Awareness Week 2017 and Time to Change's 'In Your Corner' campaign. In 2020, Nicholas supported Mind as part of the 2.6 Challenge and held two ‘workout weeks’ to raise awareness of Mind’s work on his social media.

Duke McKenzie MBE

Duke McKenzie MBE is a former boxer and three weight world champion.

In 1995, Duke's brother, best friend and mentor Dudley McKenzie tragically took his own life. Dudley's suicide left Duke passionate about mental health, particularly within the sporting world, leading him to actively support Mind for the past nine years. Duke helped launch Mind's partnership with Heads Together, giving a taster boxercise class to Prince Harry and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Olympic Park.

Duke coached boxercise at Mind in Croydon and has recently helped shape Mind's Mental Health Awareness for Sport and Physical Activity training, which he also helped launch in 2019. As an ambassador for Mind, Duke will help to champion the benefits that physical exercise can have in managing a mental health problem.

Stuart Semple

Stuart Semple is one of Britain's leading contemporary artists, who has exhibited all over the world.

After a traumatic near death experience following a sudden allergic reaction in his teens, Stuart was left with severe anxiety and an eating disorder. His experience of the therapeutic power of creating art led Stuart to help set up the Creative Therapies Fund. This offers grants to local Minds to give opportunities for individuals and communities across England and Wales to engage with the arts in a way that helps them to address some of the mental health problems they are facing. He launched this with an art exhibition and fundraiser entitled Mindful, which featured work by artists including The Chapman Brothers, Tracey Emin and Sebastian Horsely. So far, the Fund has supported around 1300 people and around 30 projects.

Grace Victory

Grace Victory, often known as the ‘Internet’s Big Sister’, is an award-winning content creator and author.

Grace is known for sharing her thoughts on fashion trends and beauty products, as well as her insights on motherhood, to hundreds of thousands of social media followers. Grace has been open about her own experiences of mental health problems online for many years. Most recently she shared her experience of PTSD as a result of her traumatic coma after testing positive for Covid-19.

Grace has been an avid supporter of Mind’s work since 2019, when she first featured as the cover star of Mind’s Membership Magazine. In the interview, Grace shared how Mind had helped her with her own mental health and, since then, she has supported a number of Mind’s campaigns, including Time to Talk Day.

Ruby Wax OBE

Ruby Wax OBE is an American comedian, actress and writer best known for her BBC series Ruby Wax Meets.

Ruby has long been the poster girl for mental health, and has always been vocal about her history of depression. She has created multiple autobiographical stage shows about her experiences, such as Losing It and Frazzled. She has since graduated from Oxford with a master's degree in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and written two books about mental health, combining her passion for mindfulness and comedy.

Denise Welch

Denise Welch is a British actress and television presenter.

Denise first experienced post-natal depression following the birth of her eldest son, Matty from the band The 1975, and has since battled episodes of severe depression. She now talks very openly about her process of recovery, the significant role loved ones play in helping her to stay well, and the urgent need to stamp out the stigma that continues to surround mental health problems.

Denise has been a dedicated Mind ambassador since 2013, supporting a number of Mind campaigns like Time to Talk Day and our Mind Media Awards, as well as hosting a charity ball in aid of Mind.

She regularly speaks out in the media about her experiences to help reduce the stigma of mental health, most recently releasing a new book, The Unwelcome Visitor, about her experience of living with depression.

Anna Williamson

Anna Williamson is an author, TV presenter and radio host.

Anna has experienced severe anxiety and panic attacks for many years and, having been through the daunting process of seeking help herself, wants to let people know that it's okay to ask for help. As a trained counsellor, Anna has published two books, an insider's guide to conquering anxiety, Breaking Mad and another on parenting with anxiety Breaking Mum and Dad. Since becoming an ambassador for Mind she has promoted our online community Elefriends, joined fellow Mind ambassador Matt Johnson in captaining the Mind 3000 hike for Team England, championed Mind's services to the media and hosted Mind's Workplace Wellbeing Index Awards twice. Anna also supported our 2019 Christmas appeal, focusing on children and young people, across her social media channels – sharing her advice to her 15 year old self.

Zoe Sugg

Zoe Sugg is a vlogger and YouTube sensation.

Zoe, who rose you fame with her YouTube channel Zoella, is Mind's first Digital Ambassador. With over 12 million followers on YouTube, Zoe is known for regularly vlogging about fashion, beauty and lifestyle. In 2012, she bravely opened up about her own experiences with mental health. Zoe first experienced panic attacks and anxiety when she was 14-years-old and since then she's become all too aware of how isolating it can be to have a mental health problem. She feels passionately about speaking out and hopes that by doing so, she's helping others to feel less alone.

Zoe regularly promotes Mind's campaigns, such as Time to Talk Day and Crafternoon on her digital channels. Most recently, Mind featured as part of the ‘Tuesday Takeover’ series on her Zoella Instagram channel, highlighting various aspects of our campaigning and fundraising work. Rosie Weatherley, Information Content Manager at Mind, was also interviewed for a '13 Questions With' feature on the Zoella website.

Zoe also regularly fundraises for Mind, from launching a fundraising campaign for her 28th birthday to donating 100% of the profits of a neon sign created in aid of Mind.