What do you think to this idea?

[cyberguy]

I’m passionate about mental health however I don’t believe I have the intelligence or the temperament to become a psychotherapist. My particular skill set is in sales.

I’ve had this idea. What do you think to a free magazine all about mental health placed in GP surgeries. The way I could make some money is by advertising local therapists/mental health charities who would go through some sort of “credibility check” process for example we verify thier qualifications or we talk to a few former clients. The therapists obviously pay for the adverts.

What do you think to this idea?

It doesn’t have to be a magazine I’m also open to doing YouTube videos etc

I would love to hear your opinions!

 

[Scalloway]

Have you got any estimates of printing costs and worked out what advertising space would sell for?

 

[cyberguy]

Have you got any estimates of printing costs and worked out what advertising space would sell for?

Not yet no I’ve just had the idea today. I know I have to figure out the printing costs etc but do you like the bear bones idea do you think it could potentially be viable or am I in lala land?

 

[Mr D]

What is the benefit to the therapists? What problem are you solving with the magazine?
Placing anything in a private business can be hard. The owners decide what can be placed there.

What do you think you can place in a GP surgery that the therapist does not already have the same ability to place? Or even already have in place?

 

[cyberguy]

The benefit to the therapist is that they can raise awareness. It won’t be just advertisements we will have them write articles, book reviews, help aspiring therapists with thier careers, have them exclusively offer “special rates”, invite readers to mental health seminars etc

I have a friend who works for a local magazine who places thier magazine in gp surgeries etc and he said you should have no problem getting f magazines placed for free if you know how to the sell the benefits to the practice managers which are very hard to get a hold of but if you’ve been in sales all your life you tend to have a few tricks up your sleeve.

 

[Mr D]

The benefit to the therapist is that they can raise awareness. It won’t be just advertisements we will have them write articles, book reviews, help aspiring therapists with thier careers, have them exclusively offer “special rates”, invite readers to mental health seminars etc

I have a friend who works for a local magazine who places thier magazine in gp surgeries etc and he said you should have no problem getting f magazines placed for free if you know how to the sell the benefits to the practice managers which are very hard to get a hold of but if you’ve been in sales all your life you tend to have a few tricks up your sleeve.

The question then becomes can you persuade the therapist to pay to raise awareness? Does that in itself improve the bottom line for the therapist? Or their employer?

Persuade them to pay to do the work? Or you be paying them for the work by the word count?
Mental health seminars? Not sure the public using GP surgeries would want to go. Perhaps more relevant to nursing students and medical students?

 

[cyberguy]

I will be contacting private therapists only to persuade them to advertise. And I don’t see why someone who is visiting thier gp for mental health issues (anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue) wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar which would educate them about ways in which they could help themselves and be led by a therapist who has expertise in thier specific area. For the therapist if he/she strikes a cord - they will get some new clients.

 

[Noah]

And I don’t see why someone who is visiting thier gp for mental health issues (anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue) wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar which would educate them about ways in which they could help themselves and be led by a therapist who has expertise in thier specific area.

I'm no expert, but I would imagine that the reason why such people "wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar" is precisely because of "anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue".

 

[cyberguy]

I'm no expert, but I would imagine that the reason why such people "wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar" is precisely because of "anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue".

Good point maybe digital is the way to go rather than print

 

[website-designer]

If your suffering from anxiety you may not even visit the doctor let alone a seminar full of people!

Digital would be the way to go, establish digitally then possibly expand to print when you've got the contacts and network.

 

[Mr D]

I will be contacting private therapists only to persuade them to advertise. And I don’t see why someone who is visiting thier gp for mental health issues (anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue) wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar which would educate them about ways in which they could help themselves and be led by a therapist who has expertise in thier specific area. For the therapist if he/she strikes a cord - they will get some new clients.

Chronic fatigue is a mental health issue now?
Do be kind enough to inform the relevant campaign groups. Then duck. Fast.


Mental health seminar comes across as rather different than a seminar on coping with particular problems - which can be different for 2 people with the same diagnosis never mind multiple different groups.

Getting people with chronic fatigue to do anything is a hard job. They often pay to do things. Even attend a GP appointment.

The best expert for chronic fatigue is someone with chronic fatigue. A therapist that believes in the subject may be useful but may also be unaware of the limits and the costs.

Ok so we have narrowed things down, you are selling to therapists the possibility of new leads. Not new leads themselves, just the chance. Oh and who pays for the seminar room hire, therapist time etc?
Will you be able to charge them enough?

 

[Mr D]

I'm no expert, but I would imagine that the reason why such people "wouldn’t want to go to a free seminar" is precisely because of "anxiety, depression, OCD, chronic fatigue".

It's quite possible that particular NHS areas already have regular groups run for anxiety, depression etc.

And the business owners of the GP surgery may already have their staff sending patients to such events and courses.

 

[cyberguy]

Chronic fatigue is a mental health issue now?
Do be kind enough to inform the relevant campaign groups. Then duck. Fast.


Mental health seminar comes across as rather different than a seminar on coping with particular problems - which can be different for 2 people with the same diagnosis never mind multiple different groups.

Getting people with chronic fatigue to do anything is a hard job. They often pay to do things. Even attend a GP appointment.

The best expert for chronic fatigue is someone with chronic fatigue. A therapist that believes in the subject may be useful but may also be unaware of the limits and the costs.

Ok so we have narrowed things down, you are selling to therapists the possibility of new leads. Not new leads themselves, just the chance. Oh and who pays for the seminar room hire, therapist time etc?
Will you be able to charge them enough?

On second thoughts and your very helpful comments I think the seminar idea is a no go. Your post has made me think of another idea. What about if I have therapists sign up to a lead generation campaign then they will get fully qualified leads. We can acquire the leads by telemarketing, direct mail, newsletters, SEO etc. I think that maybe a more profitable route to go down or even maybe have a helpline people ring and we assess thier problem and refer them to the appoproate service. How does that sound?

 

[fisicx]

What about if I have therapists sign up to a lead generation campaign then they will get fully qualified leads. We can acquire the leads by telemarketing, direct mail, newsletters, SEO etc.

Do you really think people with metal health issues will respond to this sort of marketing?

...or even maybe have a helpline people ring and we assess thier problem and refer them to the appoproate service.

You mean just like all the other helplines

 

[The Byre]

Media only works if you can sell people something.

So what are you going to sell these people?

 

[Mr D]

On second thoughts and your very helpful comments I think the seminar idea is a no go. Your post has made me think of another idea. What about if I have therapists sign up to a lead generation campaign then they will get fully qualified leads. We can acquire the leads by telemarketing, direct mail, newsletters, SEO etc. I think that maybe a more profitable route to go down or even maybe have a helpline people ring and we assess thier problem and refer them to the appoproate service. How does that sound?

Assessing problem and referring to appropriate service - that's what a GP does.
There's the NHS 111 telephone service of course. Not sure about them, I rang them once and didn't get referred to a service, the service got referred to me. I honestly would not have expected them to be right but they were spot on.

 

[Gecko001]

Therapists are a totally unregulated in the UK. Anybody, with little or no training and no qualifications, can quite legally set themselves up as a therapist . So you get a hotchpotch of people in the sector from the PhD's who are fully qualified and belong to a charted professional body, to the people who have done a course in counselling and have joined one of the many associations which pervade the sector to the totally untrained chancers. All can practice quite legally in the UK.

You could have problems getting a magazine advertising therapists into GP's waiting rooms.

I would stick to the youtube videos.

 

[website-designer]

Anybody, with little or no training and no qualifications, can quite legally set themselves up as a therapist . So you get a hotchpotch of people in the sector from the PhD's who are fully qualified and belong to a charted professional body, to the people who have done a course in counselling and have joined one of the many associations which pervade the sector to the totally untrained chancers. All can practice quite legally in the UK.

You could have problems getting a magazine advertising therapists into GP's waiting rooms.

I would stick to the youtube videos.

I watch alot of YouTube videos, especially following the latest science (qualified leading experts) on nutrition and personal wellbeing, it's interesting how even qualified doctors prescribe say, anti depressants for depression when not looking at potentially the major contributing factors such as the persons diet. Effectively masking the issue with tablets than fixing the underlying cause.

Over the next 10 year's Joe public will eventually cotton on to the obvious correlation of mental health and the substances and chemicals we consume.

 

[Mr D]

I watch alot of YouTube videos, especially following the latest science (qualified leading experts) on nutrition and personal wellbeing, it's interesting how even qualified doctors prescribe say, anti depressants for depression when not looking at potentially the major contributing factors such as the persons diet. Effectively masking the issue with tablets than fixing the underlying cause.

Over the next 10 year's Joe public will eventually cotton on to the obvious correlation of mental health and the substances and chemicals we consume.

And of course there are many causes of mental health problems that are nothing to do with diet.

This obvious correlation isn't perhaps so obvious. And you've been consuming chemicals all your life.
Thinking of chemicals, I'm going to put a chemical in the kettle and have a nice cup of multiple chemicals. A nice mint tea.

 

[website-designer]

And of course there are many causes of mental health problems that are nothing to do with diet.

This obvious correlation isn't perhaps so obvious. And you've been consuming chemicals all your life.
Thinking of chemicals, I'm going to put a chemical in the kettle and have a nice cup of multiple chemicals. A nice mint tea.

Oh I completely agree. Although I think the chemicals, substances and pollution are playing a bigger part in rising cancers too etc.

My generation grew up on now banned E numbers of all kinds. We're talking chemicals that had no real use but found profit in the food industry. That were found to be potentially hazardous.

Its such a complex subject and every person is unique. Peanuts make a nice snack for many. Would kill some people.

Mint is a healthy natural chemical. We're talking industrial created compounds that were never designed by nature that play an unknown role on our health system when consumed. Many that can be avoided with education.

 

[Mr D]

Oh I completely agree. Although I think the chemicals, substances and pollution are playing a bigger part in rising cancers too etc.

My generation grew up on now banned E numbers of all kinds. We're talking chemicals that had no real use but found profit in the food industry. That were found to be potentially hazardous.

Its such a complex subject and every person is unique. Peanuts make a nice snack for many. Would kill some people.

Mint is a healthy natural chemical. We're talking industrial created compounds that were never designed by nature that play an unknown role on our health system when consumed. Many that can be avoided with education.

I am just age 21. With 25 repeats.
Yes I remember E numbers.

Worth starting a separate thread on timeout for chemicals discussion, fascinating subject though it is perhaps not great for the OPs thread to derail too much.

Back to the subject at hand OP - perhaps a magazine aimed at those with some mental illness themselves and family / friends of the person concerned.
A fanzine perhaps.

Adverts by local supportive businesses rather than just therapists. And there are probably thousands more businesses that support the idea of mental health. And as you may well know yourself, mental health problems are pretty common.

Anyone seen the advert on tv recently about mental health, different people with a sticker each stuck on them? By one of the banks I think. 30 years ago I do not think such an advert could have been made.

 

[cyberguy]

I am just age 21. With 25 repeats.
Yes I remember E numbers.

Worth starting a separate thread on timeout for chemicals discussion, fascinating subject though it is perhaps not great for the OPs thread to derail too much.

Back to the subject at hand OP - perhaps a magazine aimed at those with some mental illness themselves and family / friends of the person concerned.
A fanzine perhaps.

Adverts by local supportive businesses rather than just therapists. And there are probably thousands more businesses that support the idea of mental health. And as you may well know yourself, mental health problems are pretty common.

Anyone seen the advert on tv recently about mental health, different people with a sticker each stuck on them? By one of the banks I think. 30 years ago I do not think such an advert could have been made.

Maybe I haven’t expressed myself clearly but that was going to be the aim of the magazine to help people with mental health issues and you make a very good point about also helping those who have friends/relatives with mental health issues.

You make an excellent point about not just limiting the advertising to therapists. They say one in four people suffer from mental health problems so I don’t see why businesses outside of therapists wouldn’t be supportive plus it’s makes the whole magazine idea way more viable. By the way I’m not looking at this to make myself rich just a comfortable living I’ve just turned 28 and want to do something to help that’s all.

 

[cyberguy]

Maybe I haven’t expressed myself clearly but that was going to be the aim of the magazine to help people with mental health issues and you make a very good point about also helping those who have friends/relatives with mental health issues.

You make an excellent point about not just limiting the advertising to therapists. They say one in four people suffer from mental health problems so I don’t see why businesses outside of therapists wouldn’t be supportive plus it’s makes the whole magazine idea way more viable. By the way I’m not looking at this to make myself rich just a comfortable living I’ve just turned 28 and want to do something to help that’s all.

Also a fanzine is far more viable as well thinking about it

 

[The Byre]

Mental illness and poverty -

https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour.../985DE9F19CEA4165BE1E85A022BEFDFB/core-reader

The mentally ill are many times more likely to be poor. Advertisers do not want to target poor people. Making media pay (regardless of which type of media) is all about advertising.

Your idea is therefore dead in the water.

 

[cyberguy]

Mental illness and poverty -

The mentally ill are many times more likely to be poor. Advertisers do not want to target poor people. Making media pay (regardless of which type of media) is all about advertising.

Your idea is therefore dead in the water.

There are plenty of “rich” people too who suffer from mental health areas and they are much more likely to seek help so I don’t see why my idea is dead in the water if i target affluent areas.

 

[Mr D]

Mental illness and poverty -

https://www.cambridge.org/core/jour.../985DE9F19CEA4165BE1E85A022BEFDFB/core-reader

The mentally ill are many times more likely to be poor. Advertisers do not want to target poor people. Making media pay (regardless of which type of media) is all about advertising.

Your idea is therefore dead in the water.

Not seen the TV ads, the newspaper ads, the social media ads aimed at the poor then?
I've been poor most of my life, had advertising aimed at me pretty much all that time.

Cut price savings on things, mobile phone adverts, holiday ads etc. The poor may not have much spending power individually. Together they have enough spending power to attract advertisers, what with there being millions of them.

 

[cyberguy]

Not seen the TV ads, the newspaper ads, the social media ads aimed at the poor then?
I've been poor most of my life, had advertising aimed at me pretty much all that time.

Cut price savings on things, mobile phone adverts, holiday ads etc. The poor may not have much spending power individually. Together they have enough spending power to attract advertisers, what with there being millions of them.

Hear hear!

 

[Lee Oakley]

I’m passionate about mental health however I don’t believe I have the intelligence or the temperament to become a psychotherapist. My particular skill set is in sales.

I’ve had this idea. What do you think to a free magazine all about mental health placed in GP surgeries. The way I could make some money is by advertising local therapists/mental health charities who would go through some sort of “credibility check” process for example we verify thier qualifications or we talk to a few former clients. The therapists obviously pay for the adverts.

What do you think to this idea?

It doesn’t have to be a magazine I’m also open to doing YouTube videos etc

I would love to hear your opinions!

You are missing a critical component, i.e. content.

Unless its just going to be a full of adverts you are going to need engaging and relevant content and to buck the trend of the ever declining print media you will need very good content.

Without content you dont have anything really.

Secondly, (and even assuming you had all the content sorted) I would question the strategy of adverts for paid for services (i.e advertising therapists) in a publication distributed into a medical environment where the target customer for said advertisers will have access to a better service offered by medical professionals, with access to medication if so required, and for free.

Then there is the issue that I dont think any GP would allow such a publication under ethical reasons and avoiding any malpractice concerns.

If you are passionate about mental health then by all means get a Wordpress template, start a mental health focused blog/news site and if you get tens of thousands of subscribers your content is at a point when you could be able to monetise it.

Do it as a hobby first. Its cheaper and you can make your mistakes early on and learn from them without costly implications and fees for writers, designers, printing etc

 

[DontAsk]

Oh I completely agree. Although I think the chemicals, substances and pollution are playing a bigger part in rising cancers too etc.

My generation grew up on now banned E numbers of all kinds. We're talking chemicals that had no real use but found profit in the food industry. That were found to be potentially hazardous.

Only a few chemicals with E numbers were truly harmful.

A generation or three ago you might not have lived long enough to worry about E numbers or cancer.

 

[DontAsk]

Mint is a healthy natural chemical.

Really? It's all in the dose response. You do know you can OD on mint, don't you. Just the same as you can OD on vitamins.

I don't think you have really thought this "chemicals" thing through.

 

[Lee Oakley]

The mentally ill are many times more likely to be poor. Advertisers do not want to target poor people.
.

I disagree. Knowing your target market is critical so advertising superyachts and private jets down the local job centre is a tad unwise but there is a vast history of brands advertising to the less well off.

Payday loan adverts being a recent example. Before its collapse Wonga adverts were everywhere and they even sponsored Newcastle United when they were in the Premier League.

Looking further at gambling, 95% of all televised games have gambling adverts and even during the BBC match of the day show there are still over 250 separate gambling advertising instances from shirt sponsors, advertising hoardings at the grounds and the sponsor boards for TV interviews.

 

[cyberguy]

You are missing a critical component, i.e. content.

Unless its just going to be a full of adverts you are going to need engaging and relevant content and to buck the trend of the ever declining print media you will need very good content.

Without content you dont have anything really.

Secondly, (and even assuming you had all the content sorted) I would question the strategy of adverts for paid for services (i.e advertising therapists) in a publication distributed into a medical environment where the target customer for said advertisers will have access to a better service offered by medical professionals, with access to medication if so required, and for free.

Then there is the issue that I dont think any GP would allow such a publication under ethical reasons and avoiding any malpractice concerns.

If you are passionate about mental health then by all means get a Wordpress template, start a mental health focused blog/news site and if you get tens of thousands of subscribers your content is at a point when you could be able to monetise it.

Do it as a hobby first. Its cheaper and you can make your mistakes early on and learn from them without costly implications and fees for writers, designers, printing etc

I know quite a bit about mental health myself having quite serious issues with it in the past. I know a lot about CBT and it’s future directors and the most exciting research being conducted within it like imagery rescripting. I also know about other modalities like DBT, ACT, solution focused therapy and cognitive hypnotherapy (which I think deserves much more appreciation). I’m happy to write the content and design and print the fanzine myself to begin with.

In regards to advertising at GP surgeries. It’s not a must I can post the fanzine to various households myself.

I agree that by starting a wordpress blog is a great way to test the waters. Any ideas on how to market the blog apart from writing good content?

 

[Lee Oakley]

You do know you can OD on mint, don't you.
.

True, let us not forget that it was an After Eight that saw off Monty pythons, Mr Creosote ha

 

[Mr D]

Really? It's all in the dose response. You do know you can OD on mint, don't you. Just the same as you can OD on vitamins.

I don't think you have really thought this "chemicals" thing through.

You can die from drinking too much water too. Pretty much anything your body can accept has a limit to how much it can deal with.

 

[Lee Oakley]

I know quite a bit about mental health myself having quite serious issues with it in the past. I know a lot about CBT and it’s future directors and the most exciting research being conducted within it like imagery rescripting. I also know about other modalities like DBT, ACT, solution focused therapy and cognitive hypnotherapy (which I think deserves much more appreciation). I’m happy to write the content and design and print the fanzine myself to begin with.

In regards to advertising at GP surgeries. It’s not a must I can post the fanzine to various households myself.

I agree that by starting a wordpress blog is a great way to test the waters. Any ideas on how to market the blog apart from writing good content?

Thats great that you have some knowledge and can create content yourself.

Creating content that is shareable is a lot easier for something like mental health than for selling a product for a small business for example.

Given its prevalence most people sadly have firsthand experience of mental health issues so if the content is helpful or insightful by its very nature it will be sharable from a personal perspective and the community perspective on social media.

Personally I would look at content from a number of angles and not just directed at people with mental health issues themselves but how people who don't have mental health issues can be better educated, become more accepting and to help those who do suffer.

I'd be happy to share some ideas and practical tips, growth strategies, revenue stream ideas etc, if you want some help?

Feel free to PM me and we can swap contact info and set up a call if you wish.

 

[cyberguy]

I’ve had another idea what about a magazine/fanzine which all about general self improvement rather than just focusing solely on mental health?

 

[Mr D]

I’ve had another idea what about a magazine/fanzine which all about general self improvement rather than just focusing solely on mental health?

Could work.

Just be careful of trying to widen the scope of what you want to do too much. Figure out the customers you are trying to reach and focus on them.

 

[cyberguy]

Could work.

Just be careful of trying to widen the scope of what you want to do too much. Figure out the customers you are trying to reach and focus on them.

Would you reccomend just sticking with mental health as discussed earlier?

 

[Mr D]

Would you reccomend just sticking with mental health as discussed earlier?

I'd focus on what you know. If you know mental health well enough then great. If you can add some stuff in on self improvement in that - could be made to work. Not everyone wants pills or counselling.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

I’m passionate about mental health however I don’t believe I have the intelligence or the temperament to become a psychotherapist. My particular skill set is in sales.

I’ve had this idea. What do you think to a free magazine all about mental health placed in GP surgeries. The way I could make some money is by advertising local therapists/mental health charities who would go through some sort of “credibility check” process for example we verify thier qualifications or we talk to a few former clients. The therapists obviously pay for the adverts.

What do you think to this idea?

It doesn’t have to be a magazine I’m also open to doing YouTube videos etc

I would love to hear your opinions!

I've read the entire thread up to now, and I'm now replying in reply to your first comment.

As someone who has suffered with Depression and Anxiety since I was around 14-15 you haven't sold it to me at all... you're basically suggesting that you wish to cash in on an illness that affects roughly 1 in 4 in the UK alone... (according to statistics)?

Really, because you've suffered with Mental Health that makes it all right to cash in?

Hmm.