Listen here to episode 1 of Dr. Malie’s Dublin City FM radio show, interviewing Katherine Lynch.
There are a lot of different messages about mental health in the public domain and in the media. Equally there are many organisations carrying out incredible work in the backdrop of a challenged health system. Behind all of this dialogue are real people with powerful stories of struggle and recovery, which I feel deserve to be shared with others. Because mental health issues are made worse by stigma and silence, my new radio show “Mental Health Laid Bare” is all about giving people a voice to share their wisdom on mental health, and their tools for recovery and wellbeing. I hope that hearing real stories will help others out there to feel like they are not alone and to take the first step towards recovery.
As a huge part of my job as a Clinical Psychologist is interviewing clients and using questions as a means of helping them to explore their inner world, I thought it would be interesting if you could get a glimpse into the meaningful issues in a person’s life, what helped them, and what it’s like to sit in a Psychologist’s chair, hence the “laid bare” reference. I take every person’s vulnerabilities really seriously so I have ensured that guests have supports in place and are in a good place to tell their story. You will also hear from mental health professionals and those with a strong view on mental health and wellbeing, such as my first guest the hugely talented comedian / actress / singer Ms. Katherine Lynch who spoke to me about her thoughts on mental health, her family history and her journey of creativity.
Meeting this lady in person and talking to her about the things that matter most to her, such as her close link to her family and community, was a breath of fresh air as I realised that the same things matter to most people. Have a listen to this podcast where Katherine speaks about how being brought up in small community in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, “prepared the very soul of me for life”, and how she is welcomed back home each time as “everyone dies famous in small town” no matter who you are and which path you choose in life.
Katherine bravely shared that “my darkest moment was when my father died” and spoke about the impact of this loss on her and her family. As part of the show is asking guests to choose a song which resonates with their life journey, Katherine chose her hauntingly beautiful song “Twilight Romance (Maureen’s Song)” from her debut album “Settling Dust”. Following the passing of her father, she wrote the song about a dream her mother had had about her father waiting for her under a street light: “In the measure of eternal life they would dance and meet again in heaven”. What a meaningful tribute to her parents. How poignant that writing her album was “her best form of therapy”…
When speaking about her deep pride in her family tie with her grand uncle and poet Patrick Kavanagh R.I.P., Katherine shared “He was divinely connected to something bigger. For me he is my connection to God. I use his poetry as my bible. To have him in my DNA is the most divine thing I feel”. Regarding his poetry, Katherine said “Melancholy is a beautiful warm blanket and often forgotten in mental health. It’s okay not to feel okay. As a teenager it’s okay to lock yourself in your room listening to Bob Dylan. Melancholy means you have the heart and soul to know you might feel hurt but you have the control and creativity to express it. We live in the fear of perfection and there is no such thing”. We spoke about the fine line between the control you feel over your feelings in a melancholic state and the need to seek help for issues if feelings are overwhelming and taking over your daily life. This was spoken about in light of the recent loss of comedian Caroline Aherne R.I.P. who had openly struggled with mental health issues due to the many pressures she felt.
When I asked Katherine what she most values in life, she shared “My family and my friendships are what matter most and are priceless”. Interestingly she said that her career comes way down her list of priorities “You’re not going to have the commissioner of RTÉ at your bedside when you are dying”. No disrespect to the commissioner of RTÉ but she was dead right and seems to have her priorities straight. Relationships are what matter most.
When asked how her ability to adapt so easily to many different genres, ranging from being an early poet to being a stand-up comedian, to creating and acting out her stage personas, to making her serious album, to reviewing literature and offering social commentaries, Katherine said “I generally let things happen organically. I let the ebb and the flow happen. I don’t feel I have ever worked a day in my life”.
To sum up using my Psychology hat, Katherine struck me as being very grounded in her approach to life and in her creative endeavours. Her early experience of family and community seems to have prepared her well for life and her work, as she has a centredness about her which contributes to her wellbeing as a person and as an artist. My sincere thanks to you the ever talented Ms. Katherine Lynch for joining me, it was an absolute pleasure.
Tune in for my next instalment of “Mental Health Laid Bare” on Tuesdays at 12.30pm on Dublin City FM 103.2 live or online. If you have any comments or feedback about the show, email me at mentalhealth@dublincityfm.ie. You can listen back to show podcasts on alustforlife.com on dublincityfm.ie. For more on my work, log on to my website drmaliecoyne.ie or follow me on Twitter or Facebook.
Support Our Campaign
We rely on the generosity of the public to fund our work and so far together we have achieved great things! Please do continue to support us so we can provide future generations in Ireland with the resources to recognise and talk about their emotions, and equip them to navigate the ever-changing world around them as they grow
