Sunday Oct 15, 2023

Is mental health an excuse with Jon Smith OBE

Imagine not being able to say a word as a child. Imagine every time you stammered you were beaten. Imagine that this treatment cured you.

This was the experience of my guest, Jon Smith. It was life changing and allowed him to pursue a career at the elite level of sport as a super-agent culminating in an OBE.

Jon discusses his own experience with mental health and the attitude towards mental health in sports. He also discusses the lack of support he got when he needed it in his own life when dealing with depression and why mental health and mental wellbeing are not the same thing.

Jon Smith gives motivational talks on how he conquered communication and the severe lack of confidence due to complete dysfluency as a child. He has also worked with some of the biggest sports stars in the world such as Diego Maradona and managed the off-pitch activities of the England Football Team for 10 years.

“I couldn’t talk for 15 years” – Jon Smith

You'll hear about:

01:34 - What is Jon working on at the moment?

06:22 - Does the NHS need to be ripped up and started again?

10:49 - From stammering kid to impacting the world

20:14 - How is mental health used as an excuse?

26:42 - Jon's experience with depression

28:59 - Jon's experience with mental health support

38:40 - Jon's thoughts on men’s mental health

46:16 - Pathologizing normal human emotion

Jon Smith’s resources:

Jon’s website - https://www.jonsmith.co/