Art of London Presents Take A Moment 2023

The exhibition featured hundreds of famous faces captured with their eyes closed by renowned photographer Ray Burmiston, serving as a poignant reminder to prioritise mental well-being and health.

This incredible art initiative brought to the West End by Art of London in collaboration with Take A Moment and renowned photographer Ray Burmiston, focused on raising awareness about mental health. Curated by Take A Moment’s director, Lara Journo-Leggatt, Art of London Presents Take A Moment launched on the Piccadilly Lights, with a heartfelt tribute to Caroline Flack by Olly Murs. Shown on the Piccadilly Lights was a touching photograph of Olly Murs closing his eyes to honour the memory of Caroline Flack, at her namesake festival ‘Flackstock’.

Week after week, visitors to the West End spotted new famous faces on the Piccadilly Lights. In September the National Portrait Gallery hosted a photography display which concluded on World Mental Health Day (10th October). The display showcased thousands of pictures of stars and public figures who support mental health awareness.

Inspiring London's West End to prioritise their mental health, this year the public had the opportunity to join in with their favourite stars and feature on the Piccadilly Lights and in the National Portrait Gallery on World Mental Health Day (10th October).

The exhibition featured new portraits of A-listers including Brian Cox, Fatboy Slim, Louis Theroux, Brian May and Roger Taylor from Queen, Hannah Waddingham, Ellie Simmonds, Warwick Davis, Ashley Banjo, Noel Fielding, Olly Murs, Ruth Wilson, Aisling Bea, Eddie Izzard, Yungblud, Damien Lewis, Emily Atak, Milly Alcock, Peter and Junior Andre, and Oti Mabuse.

Returning favourites from last year included Stephen Fry, Mel B, Kylie Minogue, Idris Elba, Ricky Gervais, Anthony Joshua, Helena Bonham Carter, Grayson Perry, and James Corden. Alongside the 300 portraits of national treasures and West End stars, the exhibition includes new pictures of Joe Wicks and Alesha Dixon, as well as portraits of key workers and a cancer patient who sadly lost her battle with the disease a few days after her picture was taken.

The campaign has ended, but you can learn more and explore the online exhibition on the Take A Moment website.

If you or anyone you know is struggling with their mental health, there are some exceptional resources around to help. We've put together a list of charities and organisations that specialise in mental health that you can reach out to for support.

UK Mental Health Charity Resources Available

Larger Mental Health Charities

MIND
Infoline: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk
Donate: https://www.mind.org.uk/donate/

SAMARITANS

Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
About: Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org. Samaritans is a charity and it’s the public’s kind donations and more than 20,000 volunteers that mean we are always there for anyone struggling to cope.

Infoline and helpline: 116 123
Email: admin@samaritans.org

CAMPAING AGAINST LIVING MISERABLY (CALM)

Website: https://www.thecalmzone.net/
Helpline: 0800 58 58 58
Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat/
Donate: https://www.thecalmzone.net/donate/

PRINCES TRUST

Website: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/
Helpline: 0800 842 842
Webchat: https://bit.ly/3rs42Ee
Central Office Email: press@princes-trust.org.uk
Donate: https://www.princes-trust.org.uk/support-our-work/donate

HEADS TOGETHER

Website: https://www.headstogether.org.uk/
Helpline: 116 123 [Samaritans]
Volunteer: https://www.headstogether.org.uk/volunteer/

THE BOOK OF MAN

Website: https://thebookofman.com/
Head office email: martin@thebookofman.com

SEE ME

Website: https://www.seemescotland.org/
Online email: https://www.seemescotland.org/contact/

YOUTH

YOUNG MIND

Website: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/
Helpline for kids: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/find-help/i-need-urgent-help/
Helpline for parents: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-helpline-and-webchat/
Central Office: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/ [Online email]
Donate: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/support-us/

LGBTQ+

MINDOUT

Website: https://mindout.org.uk/
Helpline: 01273 234839
Online Support: https://mindout.org.uk/get-support/mindout-online/
Central Office Email: info@mindout.org.uk
Donate: https://mindout.org.uk/donate/

LONDON FRIEND
Website: https://londonfriend.org.uk/
Helpline: 0300 330 0630
Online Support: https://londonfriend.org.uk/lockdown-support/
Central Office Email: office@londonfriend.org.uk
Donate: https://londonfriend.org.uk/donations/donate-now-stripe/

STONEWALL

Website: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/category/mental-health
Helpline: 0800 0502020
Central Office Email: info@stonewall.org.uk
Donate: https://www.stonewall.org.uk/support-stonewall

Female and Domestic Abuse

WOMAN’S TRUST

Website: https://womanstrust.org.uk/
Helpline: 020 7034 0303
Online Support: https://womanstrust.org.uk/what-we-do/
Central Office Email: office@womanstrust.org.uk
Donate: https://www.justgiving.com/womanstrust

WOMEN’S AID

Website: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/
About: Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.
Email helpline: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Online live chat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk
In an emergency, always call 999.

REFUGE

Website: https://www.refuge.org.uk/
Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Online Support: https://www.refuge.org.uk/our-work/our-services/
Central Office Email: press@refuge.org.uk
Donate: https://donate.refuge.org.uk/page/86578/donate/1?ea.tracking.id=GEN_B

Men’s Mental Health

HUMEN

Website: https://www.wearehumen.org/
Central Office Email: hello@wearehumen.org
Donate: https://donorbox.org/the-humen-space

THE LADBIBLE GROUP – UOKM8?

Website: https://www.ladbible.com/uokm8

BAME

PEOPLE LIKE US (part of MIND)

Website: http://www.peoplelikeus.info/index.asp