#031 · 03 November 2024

Hello POPhealth readers,

It’s been a while hasn’t it? The semi-regular nature of this newsletter appears to be evolving into something quite irregular. This was never my intention. This is the fourth time I’ve opened a document in October to start writing issue #031 [edit: it’s now November]. Each time, I just didn’t like what was written. And then I’m just not in the mood to make it right, better, publishable. 

Did I lose my writing mojo?

Is writing mojo a thing? 

I asked Google… and it seems I’m not the only one who has found a writing hiatus to come from nowhere, without reason. I want to write, there’s just been zero motivation lately. And whilst it feels like it came from “nowhere,” the reality is, that life's a lot. There’s always something, right? Something else that needs my attention. And attention in my brain often means worry. Then I get into my typical cycle of anxiety and here we are… lost confidence, lost focus, lost mojo.

I’m determined to get my fingers tapping again. While I was reading around the topic, one trick to get over writers’ block and aid creativity made me stop. And think. So much so, that I felt compelled to write about it.

STEALING

Yes, stealing other people’s work and ideas to bring you out of your writing funk. Because there’s no such thing as an original idea, right? But where are the lines between being inspired by someone else’s work, and just ripping it off?

I guess, in a way, this newsletter is a big bunch of steals. After all, it’s just a curation of stuff I’ve seen. Stuff that ticks my boxes of health + creativity and/or culture. But what I (really do) hope I offer you is more than that. A different spin, some originality of thought. That my voice can take an idea and apply a perspective that helps you to feel inspired… differently. I hope that there’s a level of transparency in my sources of inspiration… I link out to them after all.

That said, I do think one reason I sometimes get a little stuck on writing, is that you see so much stuff regurgitating across LinkedIn and I’m conscious of falling into that trap; sharing the same ideas, the same campaigns, the same advice. I’m writing this newsletter to push myself. I want to create something that feels fresh. Sometimes I look through my saved tabs of news stories and campaigns and just think, it’s been done. Everything has been said. And knowing and having the conviction to add to what has been, is sometimes such a big deal in my head. Ah, there’s anxiety right there.

Right then, I’m gonna acknowledge that this introduction resembles the rambles of a woman thinking out loud. Are you still with me? Thanks for bearing with. The irregularity of this newsletter is never intentional, life demands redirect focus. And that’s ok. And saying it out loud, I can believe it a bit more. 

So I’m here today, without apology and I’d love nothing more than to share all the stories and campaigns that got my cogs turning over the last month or so. Shall we get to it then?

UCL X YouTube

A new breed of clinical-creators

I’m all in for any initiative that expands access to high-quality mental health support for children and young people, so this partnership between University College London (UCL) and YouTube, to me, is perfection. Let me tell you why…

At the launch event, mental health experts from across the university joined representatives from YouTube Health to share their ambitious plans to train over 100 academic staff on content creation to create UCL’s own ‘clinical creators network’. On top of this, there are plans to incorporate content creation into UCL’s curriculum, to prepare up-and-coming clinicians.

It’s a huge number, but it should come as no surprise to anyone in this day and age, working in health or not. Mental health services are at the brink, so people have no other option but to find help elsewhere. Sadly not all the support online is ‘good’ and there is so much health misinformation that can lead to harmful decisions. It’s easy to be drawn in by a great aesthetic, even if the health content being served is far from clinically sound.

And now, let’s get on to that why… why is this partnership perfection?

My expectation is that for those children and young people who are either not in the system for mental health or have been let down by the system, UCLs new breed of clinical-creators will blend clinical rigour and evidence-based techniques, with creativity to make content relatable that is easily accessible, and unmissable over the sea of health misinformation online. 

Here’s to a future of scrolling through YouTube and landing on some credible and catchy health content!

Did you know, that women are less likely to receive CPR in public than men? Research released by St John Ambulance, states that a staggering 1 in 3 Brits are afraid to give CPR to a woman because they are worried about touching breasts. So the organisation hopes to change that with its latest campaign, created by agency Revolt. The CPR Bra aims to bust (get it?) taboos around chest compressions and touching breasts.

🤩 Celeb Spot 🤩

Did you catch, singer Lizzo’s Halloween costume?

Remember that weight-loss drug episode of South Park I wrote about in the summer (issue #024)? In the episode, Lizzo, the queen of body positivity, is parodied as a new weight-loss drug spoofing Ozempic. Now on her own fitness and weight loss journey, she’s faced rumours of using Ozempic herself. So, in this Halloween look she’s serving up two fingers to the doubters!

But here’s the real question: Are we at the point in the GLP-1 media frenzy, where any celeb on a wellness and weight loss journey is automatically under suspicion of using these drugs? And even if someone is using medication to get there, why should that be taboo? Obesity is a real disease with serious health consequences. The pressure to defend every step of a weight loss journey is wild, but sadly it’s the direct result of stigma. Whether natural or medical, everyone deserves the space to do what’s right for them, without judgement on the path they choose to get there.

^{HT to ET in the VCCP Health team for getting this one on my radar.}

I stumbled upon this post from Amazon Health’s Neil Linsay on LinkedIn which highlights the work the organisation is doing to bridge the care gap for LGBTQIA+ communities. He made a particularly poignant comment on National Coming Out Day:

My takeaway, inclusive care is essential, but do we stop and think about what that looks like for different groups? Moving beyond generic messages about inclusivity, and looking at the end experience to remove barriers, honour identities and create real trust between HCP and patient.

Casting a spell on the funding gap

Emma Watson invests in Hertility

I was so excited to see the news last month that actor and activist, Emma Watson, has invested in reproductive health company, Hertility. 

In the interview with Tech Crunch, Dr. Helen O’Neill, the CEO and co-founder of Hertility, said:

The announcement came around the time the Guardian reported on investment challenges faced by women founders in femtech. Although this is naturally a female-dominated industry - because who better to recognise tech solutions for women’s health than women themselves? - the majority of funding for these companies comes from male investors who often fail to understand the scale of the market. This gender bias remains a significant barrier to accessing capital in this space.

Emma Watson’s investment comes at a much-needed time for femtech. As a champion for gender equality, advocate for women’s rights and UN Women Goodwill ambassador, there’s no denying she’s a perfect match for Hertility. But beyond her genuine interest, her platform has the potential to draw more attention to femtech and attract further investment. And perhaps what I love, even more, is with this investment Emma Watson is doing more than supporting Hertility. She’s actively raising awareness of women’s health issues and breaking down the stigma associated with reproductive health and fertility.

I wrote this a few weeks ago, and never got around to publishing it here or posting it on LinkedIn. But, I think it’s a great example of healthcare creeping into culture, and that felt like a worthy reason to include it in POPhealth… even though most of us working in marketing are probably bored of this one by now (to my earlier point on regurgitation).

Burger King’s campaign- Bundles of Joy, depicted new mums, chomping down on a post-birth burger on the maternity ward. To say this campaign has struck a chord, for the right or wrong reasons is a total understatement. A huge amount of commentary - from a lot of people (men) who have not had the privilege of giving birth. It was hard to wade through the cacophony of opinions, however, I found these two perspectives super useful, so I want to share them with you:

• A creative perspective on the execution from Jo Bird

• A social-science perspective on the male-dominated outrage from Dr. Anastasia Kārkliņa Gabriel

What did you think of the campaign? Let me know.

As someone who tucked into a quarter pounder with cheese and washed it down with a glass of Moet as my post-birth meal, I loved it.

I’m gonna wrap things up here… it’s late Sunday afternoon… somehow (I started on Thursday). It’s dark outside, there’s a roast in the oven and I’m feeling pretty jaded after a fun-filled Halloween party yesterday. We did a family costume - The Cat in the Hat - because Halloween doesn’t have to be spooky. I was the fish. 

I think it’s safe to say that I might not get around to proofreading and publishing this until later this evening. The sofa is calling.

I’ll try not to leave it too long next time. Promise.

What was your favourite story in this addition? Let me know… and why not share it with a friend or colleague who would love it too!? And if you are new here, remember to subscribe to get POPhealth straight to your inbox.

Until the next one,

EML ✌️