Angela is a psychotherapist TEDx Speaker, and the presenter of the BBC1 BAFTA nominated documentary ‘Life After Suicide’, winner of the Mind Media Award for Best Factual TV documentary. The film encourages discussion and exploration of mental health issues, and challenges the stigma of suicide. After her partner took his own life 22 years ago, Angela travelled the length and breadth of the UK, describing her own experience and that of her children, whilst talking to others who had experienced the same loss. The documentary was aired as part of the BBC’s Mental Health Season #InTheMind and was watched world-wide by over 5 million viewers.
A Deputy Lieutenant of Merseyside (DL) and Consultant to The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess Of Wales, Angela is also a member of the Self Harm and Suicide Prevention All Party Parliamentary Group and co-author of the Zero Suicide Alliance online training, which has been accessed by over 3 million people globally and was honoured with a NHS70 Parliamentary Award. Angela was recognised for her involvement in the making of the documentary, alongside her charity work, as she was named Merseyside Woman of the Year in 2015, and awarded an Honorary Fellowship by Liverpool John Moores University. Angela also acts as a script and content advisor for broadcast media including the BBC, Channel 5 and Channel 4’s Hollyoaks.
Angela has worked as an Arts professional for over two decades, leading the John Moores Painting Prize at the Walker Art Gallery, and completing an MA in Art History and Curating, with a special focus on Abstract Expressionist painter Agnes Martin. Angela continues to work freelance with individual artists and arts organisations, including the National Gallery, Tate, Heart of Glass, The British Library, the Hawkwood Centre for Future Thinking, Shutterstock, The Lancet Psychiatry and Huffington Post. Angela is Creative Consultant, Lived Experience Advisor, Researcher and Senior Trainer at Suicide Bereavement UK.
Angela’s work in Mental Health and the Arts often come together, and in 2018 she completed a Churchill Research Fellowship (CF), visiting in-patient units, arts studios and Outsider Arts environments in the USA and Japan. The two disciplines came together again when Angela co-founded Grow-Wellbeing Forest School, a not-for-profit CIC which delivers creative opportunities for children, young people and adults to engage in activities in the natural environment with a wellbeing focus.
Voluntary Board/ Membership Positions:
Chair, Tate Liverpool Transition Advisory and Fundraising Board 2022 – present
Chair, Lemn Sissay’s Gold From The Stone Foundation 2017 – 2025
Chair of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 2010 – 2014
Chair Wirral Arts and Culture Community Land Trust 2020 – 2022
Chair, Ron’s Place, Outsider Art Environment 2019 – 2022
Vice-Chair, Chasing The Stigma 2016 – 2023
Founder Member, Speakers Collective 2018 – present
Project Consultant James’ Place 2016 – 2018
Invited Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Self Harm and Suicide Prevention in England and Wales 2011 – present
Member of Cheshire & Merseyside Suicide Reduction Partnership Board 2015 – present
Director, Look Photography Festival 2014 – 2017
Co-Founder, Director and Social Prescribing Lead, GROW-Wellbeing CIC 2018 – present
Trustee, Hospital Rooms 2019 – 2025
Trustee, Bluecoat Display Centre 2012 – 2017
Juror, Liverpool Art Fair 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2023
Awards:
BAFTA Nominee, 2016
Mind Media Award Winner, 2016
Merseyside Woman of the Year, 2015
Honorary Fellow, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018
NHS 70 Parliamentary Award Winner, 2018, Zero Suicide Alliance Training
Churchill Fellow, 2018
Ambassador of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 2016 – present
Patron, Support After Suicide Partnership 2018 – 2025
Patron, Merseyside Counselling and Therapy Centre 2019 – 2025
Member: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (2024)
angela samata 