In episode 378 of The Just Checking In Podcast we checked in with Conor Warren.
Conor is the Co-Founder and CEO of an organisation called Spark UK.
Founded in 2020, Spark UK is a youth-led mental health charity that offers free mental health resources, campaigns, and support to empower young people across the UK.
Conor is also the Director of We Are Prysm, a Gen Z-led consultancy helping brands, charities and media producers connect authentically with the next generation.
Conor’s desire to co-found Spark UK came from his own lived experience of mental health challenges.
He struggled with anxiety during primary school and spent time in and out of therapy during that time, but was helped a lot by taking part in art therapy.
During secondary school, he suppressed his mental health issues and by the time of sixth-form college, it reached crisis point.
He had a breakdown in Year 13 in December 2022.
Conor experienced suicidality and suicidal thoughts, and developed an eating disorder, something he calls ‘anxiety-induced sickness’ which involved restricted eating and purging.
This crisis went on for just over a year. Thankfully he had a strong support network around him, was able to develop coping mechanisms and took a gap year out to recover.
He then realised he was ready for full-time education again, moved out of home and successfully applied for Exeter University, where he is currently studying for a BSc in Business.
Conor is only 20 years old at time of recording but has already achieved so much in his life so far.
In this episode we discuss the work he’s doing with Spark UK, We Are Prysm and the issues affecting Gen-Z right now and his views on them. These include social media, masculinity, the Christianity faith revival, education and young men’s relationship with all of them.
For Conor’s mental health journey, we discuss his experience of anxiety, that eating disorder, how he conceptualised it being a man too, and how he recovered and overcame it.
As always, #itsokaytovent
You can follow Spark UK on social media below:
TRIGGER WARNING: this podcast contains a brief discussion about suicide and suicidality, which some listeners may find distressing or upsetting, so please listen with caution.
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