Archers star presents BBC Radio 4 Appeal in aid of the Mental Health Foundation

On 24 January Patricia Gallimore, who plays the character Pat Archer in the longstanding BBC drama series, presented a Mental Health Foundation Radio 4 Appeal to raise awareness of the devastating impact that mental illness can have on the lives of sufferers and their families.

Our appeal explains the need for more mental health research, which is chronically underfunded when compared to cancer and heart disease despite the fact that 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year.

Archer's star Pat Gallimore

Patricia Gallimore, who in the appeal tells the story about a woman who lost her life to suicide, says:

“I’m really pleased to be involved in the making of this Radio 4 Appeal. A mental health problem hit my family 15 or so years ago as a result of prolonged stress and I know the effect that it can have on a person and their loved ones.

Luckily we got good advice from our GP and support from friends and relatives, which all helped to get us through a horrible period in our lives.

Even though many children, adults and older people suffer from mental ill health, it is rarely discussed openly because of the stigma and shame.

Charities like the Mental Health Foundation need our support to bring the subject out into the open. Far more needs to be done to help individuals and their families, and I hope Radio 4 listeners will be generous in their support of the Foundation.”

Listen to Appeal

Click here to visit the BBC Radio 4 website at 92-94 FM, 198 Long Wave

Make a donation

Visit the Radio 4 website
Call 0800 404 8144
Write a cheque (details below)

Writing a cheque

Please make your cheque payable to the ‘Mental Health Foundation’ and post it to ‘FREEPOST, Radio 4 Appeal’. On the back of the cheque please write your full name and address. Mark the back of your envelope ‘Mental Health Foundation’.