IT’S a cause that means far more to her than Brexit and a job that has particular resonance for her, given her courage in admitting to mental health issues as a teenager, and surely all her political opponents will wish Ruth Davidson well in her new task.
It was announced yesterday that the former Scottish Conservative leader will chair ITV’s new Mental Health Advisory Group, created following the deaths of participants in The Jeremy Kyle Show and Love Island.
Davidson will remain an MSP after quitting as her party’s leader, partly due to being “hopelessly conflicted over Brexit” as she put it at the time.
READ MORE: Jeremy Kyle show permanently axed following death of guest
The former BBC journalist has agreed to take up the unpaid role designed to protect the mental wellbeing of participants and audiences on ITV shows.
Davidson said she is “excited” to chair the mental health group which will advise both ITV and STV about the production of shows and which will help to set the broadcaster’s “overall mental health strategy”,
She commented: “Television can have a huge impact on people’s lives and on the life of the nation.
“Creating a culture which supports the mental health of one another is so important and ITV and STV’s position means they can make a real difference in working towards this goal.
“I’m excited to be involved in ITV and STV’s efforts to bring mental wellbeing to the centre of our national conversation. It is so important to talk.
“The advisory group will have a huge role in setting the broadcasters’ overall mental health strategy and I look forward to working with ITV and STV to make a genuine difference to people’s lives.”
Having previously spoken out about being diagnosed with clinical depression as a teenager, Davidson added: “For far too long, Scotland has failed to talk enough about the importance of mental health.
“Putting it at the top of the national agenda is something we can all get behind, no matter our political allegiance.
“It is a subject with a particular personal resonance and I hope to champion that cause over the coming months and years.”
The Mental Health Advisory Group, the start of a five-year partnership with mental health charity Mind, is due to meet four times a year to bring ideas, feedback and provide practical advice about the broadcasters’ shows.
ITV CEO Carolyn McCall said: “Ruth’s background in media and politics and her courage to talk publicly about mental health in her own life, make her absolutely the right person to chair ITV’s Mental Health Advisory Group.”
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