..of its kind to provide hope and support to thousands
- Live mental health event will feature an array of guest speakers including former Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas and ex-premier league footballer Clarke Carlisle
- Event will be held on 2nd April in Birmingham and people can attend virtually or in person
- Free to attend for students
Abuse survivor, ex-prisoner and entrepreneur, James Crystal is the founder of Be;Live – the UK’s first live annual mental health event designed to help educate, inspire and empower people around the topic of mental health.
The event, which is being held at Birmingham’s Gas Street Central at 6pm on 2nd April 2022, will see a host of guest speakers including former Sky Sports presenter Simon Thomas and ex-premier league footballer Clarke Carlisle, talk about the issue of mental health and share their own personal stories of survival and recovery in an effort to normalise conversations.
The event is open to everyone to attend, either virtually or in person, with tickets available to purchase via the website. Entry is free for all UK university students, due to the latest Office of National Statistics data which reveal just how much the global pandemic and national lockdown have affected their mental health1.
As well as guest speakers, Be;Live has partnered with the Birmingham Centre of Arts Therapies (BCAT) and artwork designed by mental health service users will be on display at the event with each piece depicting the individuals personal experience of mental ill-health. This display aims to be profoundly moving, eye-opening and inspiring for onsite attendees.
Ticket prices and brand sponsorship of the event aims to raise vital funds for independent mental health charities who provide free mental health services on the front line.
In England, 1 in 4 people face a mental health struggle at least once per year2, and suicide remains the biggest killer of men aged under 50 in the UK3.
According to the Office of National Statistics, there were a total of 4,912 registered deaths by suicide in England in 2020 – 404 fewer deaths than those registered in 2019, at a rate of 15.3 per 100,000 for males, and 4.9 per 100,000 for females4.
In the face of worrying statistics like these, Be;Live founder James Crystal set out to support individuals in need and make a difference for independent charities.
James, now aged 28, suffered abuse as a teenager which manifested into several years of substance misuse and criminal activity, eventually leading to a prison sentence and a diagnosis of PTSD and depression.
Following this, James found the strength and courage to forgive his abuser, rehabilitate himself, and begin channelling all of his energy into sharing his story after being invited to speak at various events and organisations including the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, The Bank of England, The Home Office, Cambridgeshire Police Constabulary, as well as numerous television, radio and national newspaper interviews.
Now almost five years sober, James has recently completed a university degree in Business Management and has launched Be;Live with its ultimate aims of empowering people to speak up and contribute to reducing the country’s worrying mental health statistics.
James says:
“I want to support others in their own journeys and help other people get better too. For this reason I founded Be;Live, a charitable project to help educate, inspire and empower people around the topic of mental health. We cannot wait to see everyone there on 2nd April – we have a phenomenal line up of speakers and it’s going to be incredibly moving and powerful to hear their stories. “It is my hope that through Be;Live we will be able to help reduce the UK mental health statistics and let people know that they are not alone in their struggles. In order to see the UK suicide statistics decrease, people need to be equipped to deal with mental health and believe that they can get better, that their situation is transient and can improve.
“I am determined through my life lived to prove what is possible when people who want to change have the correct support systems around them. I need to be a role model for those who don’t have one. I cannot let my experiences go to waste, so I have to do my upmost to help others learn from my mistakes and enable them to successfully change too. Please join us on 2nd April either virtually or in person and together we can make this first-of-its-kind annual event truly remarkable and impactful.”
Television presenter, Simon Thomas says:
"The first time James told me his story I was blown away, not just by everything he's been through and the mountains he's had to climb; but by the way he has rebuilt his life and is now having such a big impact in helping others who are struggling. “I can't wait to be part of the first ever Be;Live event – it's going to be challenging, powerful; but most of all its going to empower so many to open up about their own mental health struggles and the pathway forward to a life of freedom."
In person event tickets start from less than £23, and virtual event tickets costs just over £10. Further information about the event can be found at www.belive.org.uk