Now We're Talking - Hot Press teams up with Lyons Tea and Pieta House

Hot Press has teamed up with Lyons Tea and Pieta House for the Now We’re Talking campaign, which aims to break the stigma that surrounds mental health in Ireland, and to empower people – and especially young people to talk.

That campaign is launched fully in the Hot Press Special Mental Health Issue, which hits the streets today, Thursday, 26th September.

It makes sense, then, that  rising Britrock star Sam Fender should grace the cover of our issue this fortnight. With the powerful song about suicide ‘Dead Boys’ to his credit, as an artist, Sam has been at the forefront of a new generation who are beginning to admit their vulnerabilities in a new and different way.

Having talked at length with the singer on various occasions during his rise to the top, Hot Press’ Lucy O’Toole sits down with Sam Fender, for a unique interview which covers everything from the suicide pandemic in North Shields, to the pervasive influence of drugs in his hometown, to the music that inspires him and helps him cope. 


Louise Kane of Hot Press says: "We also publish our full mental health supplement – entitled ‘Now We’re Talking’ – in this fortnight’s issue. For this massive, 26-page supplement, we asked musicians, writers, artists and sports figures to help us break the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing their experiences of dealing with it. Everyone from Lewis Capaldi, Dermot Kennedy, Jessie Buckley, Alan O’Mara, Kodaline, Billie Eilish, The Murder Capital, and dozens of other prominent figures responded, giving us deep, poignant words about how mental health has affected them, and how important it is to be able to talk. 

She says : "We also have an exclusive interview with Pieta House CEO Elaine Austin, who offers a powerful insight into how the charity’s services work; how people can access them; and what new initiatives they’re undertaking to help those in need. We also provide an overview of the wide range of services out there for anyone who is in distress or despair. 

"In other features in our Mental Health special,  we’ve published unique features by people from all walks of life.  Keywest frontman Andrew Kavanagh talks to us about his own mental health journey; Dublin rappers Hare Squead reveal how one of their members had to step away from the music to confront his struggles with mental health; former drug smuggler-turned- successful artist Brian O’Rourke pens a moving piece about maintaining your mental health while confined to prison; and well-known Instagrammer and influencer Jess Brennan talks about the pressures that come with being constantly in the public eye and having a social media persona."