Mental health advocate takes ‘Brew Monday’ message to Parliament

Mental health advocate Oskar Wilkinson recently attended the Houses of Parliament to help tackle the stigma surrounding ‘Blue Monday’.

The visit was part of Samaritans’ national ‘Brew Monday’ campaign, which encourages people to ask more than just “How are you?” and instead check in meaningfully with friends, family and colleagues. 

At Parliament, Oskar spoke with MPs, Ministers and Peers about his work improving NHS mental health services, online safety and the importance of including lived experience in shaping meaningful policies. Key meetings included discussions with Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care; Baroness Merron, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Women’s Health and Mental Health; and Kanishka Narayan, Minister for AI and Online Safety, as well as several backbench MPs. 

Oskar, who was diagnosed with Bipolar II disorder in 2023, told the Glossop Chronicle: 

“I’ve worked with the Samaritans since 2022 as a freelance Lived Experience Advisor. I draw on my own personal struggles with mental health to help advise on policy, campaigns, and initiatives. It’s really fulfilling to contribute in a way that brings real-life insight and practicality to projects.” 

Since joining the Samaritans, Oskar has co-designed online resources to support young people navigating suicide and self-harm content, been a keynote speaker at the National Suicide Prevention Alliance Conference, participated in World Suicide Prevention Day discussions at Parliament and helped lobby for the Online Safety Act. 

“Lived experience is more than sharing your story” Oskar added. “It’s about shaping policies that reflect real-world experiences. Every policy should consider the people it’s trying to help and fully understand the gravity of the situation.” 

His message to the public is simple: “Hope starts with just one conversation. Keep talking to one another and looking out for each other.”