Keeping on top of our mental health and well-being in times where things go beyond our control can be a scary and intimidating thing, and while exercise and a healthy balanced diet have been proven as clear ways to control this, podcasts also have the power to keep us on the right track.

In their increasing popularity over recent years, you can pretty much find a podcast to cover each and every topic, but sometimes, finding the right one for you when it comes to gaining better control of your mental health and well-being can be a bit of a challenge.

Whether you’re hoping for a better night’s sleep or looking to improve your mental state through fitness, hopefully, our specially curated list you help point you in the right direction.

Phone a Friend with George Ezra & Ollie MN

Hosted by chart-topping singer-songwriter George Ezra and his pal Ollie MN, Phone a Friend launched earlier this year and is already making its way to becoming a hugely successful podcast after earning a spot on the new and noteworthy list.

Every Monday, the long-term pals call each other up to discuss how their week has been and how it has affected their mental health. As well as being incredibly funny with some notable anecdotes from both parties, Phone a Friend is an open and honest listen about living with mental illnesses including anxiety, depression and OCD and ways to cope. It also has a fantastic email jingle that’s enough to make you want to tune in every week.

Click here to listen to Phone a Friend

Happy Place

Hosted by presenter, author and radio DJ Fearne Cotton, Happy Place follows on and builds on the incredible success of Fearne’s well-being and mental health novel, Happy, in which she opened shared her experience and struggles in living with a mental illness.

Each episode, Fearne sits down with a celebrity guest to chat about how their lives have been affected by mental illness and what they’ve done to improve their mental state, or how they’ve adapted to help someone else in their life who may be struggling.

With star-studded guests from singers including James Bay and Sam Fender, to Joe Wicks ‘The Body Coach’, Tom Kerridge and Game of Thrones star, Maisie Williams, Happy Place is filled with inspiring stories that might just help you pick up a tip or two.

Click here to listen to Happy Place

If I Can Do It

Continuing to ride the wave of success from her mental health podcast, Mad World, The Telegraph‘s Bryony Gordon kicked off 2019 by putting a spring in everyone’s step and launching her latest podcast project, If I Can Do It.

Having previously welcomed guests including Prince Harry to Mad World, If I Can Do It sees Bryony sit down with the likes of Mel B and other household names to talk about the challenges that life has thrown at them and what they’ve done to overcome them and put them on the path to success.

Listen to all seven episodes by clicking here

Sleep Life: Stories to Dream Off Too

Struggling to sleep? Don’t worry, there’s a podcast to help with that, too! Launched by Simba, a company that makes incredibly comfy mattresses, Sleep Life is packed with useful advice on to what could be disrupting your sleep and ways to go about solving it.

Hosted by tech presenter Georgie Barrat and Simba’s content lead Alex Goldstein, you can ditch counting sheep and rely on this podcast for a better night’s kip.

Download Sleep Life by clicking here

Open Mind with Frankie Bridge

After becoming hospitalised following a mental breakdown, former star of The Saturday’s Frankie Bridge has been open and honest in sharing her story both through the release of her book, Open and launching her podcast, Open Mind in September 2019.

Similar to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place, each week, Frankie is joined with a celebrity guest who she invites to sit down and chat about their experiences living with a mental illness. Featuring guests including BBC Radio 1’s Nick Grimshaw, winner of the Great British Bake Off, Candice Brown and even Frankie’s sister, Open Mind aims to inspire others to speak out, ask for help and be helped.

Listen to Open Mind by clicking here

One You Couch to 5k

Ok, we’re throwing in a curveball here, but stick with us, ok? If you’re looking to get in shape – for whatever reason – it’s time to dust off the trainers and download the One You Couch to 5k app.

Spaced across nine weeks, this nifty little podcast will get you from couch potato to running 5k in just three months. You’ll head out three times a week, increasing the distance and time you run every week, and can choose a celebrity trainer to join you on your workout (we heavily recommend Sarah Millican).

Fitness is a great way to keep on top of your mental health and well-being, so stick your headphones in and start running!

Click here for more information on the One You Couch to 5K podcasts