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Author Jay Shetty marks World Mental Health Day on Piccadilly Lights

Jay Shetty says: “I took to the streets hoping that we could provide that outlet for people by having real, open, honest, and vulnerable conversations with no judgment.”

Published

October 11, 2022

Rajiv Raghunath

Bestselling author and chief purpose officer at Calm, Jay Shetty took over the Piccadilly Lights in London for World Mental Health Day (October 10) to remind everyone that “ we all struggle and we’re not alone”, states an Ocean Outdoor media release.

“Jay’s message is one of inclusion and acceptance, highlighting the power of acknowledging our own emotions. One in four people struggle with their mental health but we often don’t feel comfortable talking about how we feel,” the release states.

The 10-minute broadcast (at 8am and 8pm) suggests that, to cope with difficult situations, people often attempt to block the negative emotions. It demonstrates that when they shut themselves down and block negative emotions, they also block out any other emotion. This process can impact people negatively “as we’re built to feel positive and negative emotions every day because that’s what makes us human”.

Jay Shetty, Chief Purpose Officer at Calm, said: “I believe we all need to feel seen, heard and understood but often struggle to find a safe space to do so. I took to the streets hoping that we could provide that outlet for people by having real, open, honest, and vulnerable conversations with no judgment. It was truly an honour to share these moments with the people I met. We cried, we laughed, I listened, and I learned. I hope this encourages more people to start conversations at home, in the workplace and amongst friends”.

Derek Manns, Commercial Media Director at Landsec said: “Piccadilly Lights has an important role to play in bringing attention to important issues. With one in four people struggling with their mental health we hope that sharing Jay’s message with the public will spark conversations and help people who are struggling to feel seen.”

For those looking for new ways to cope with negative emotions and embrace difficult feelings, Jay’s Piccadilly Lights message includes a QR code that links to his podcast “On Purpose with Jay Shetty.” In the featured episode, Jay speaks to clinical psychologist Dr Julie Smith.