Mark Lemon is an award-winning children’s author, podcaster, grief & mental health speaker and bereavement ambassador for children’s charity, Winston’s Wish.
When Mark was 12-years-old his father was murdered and he has now dedicated his life to helping children, young people and adults struggling to come to terms with their grief and mental health.
Mark Lemon has carried out public speaking engagements for Natwest, presented at conferences and facilitated interviews for The Good Grief Festival.
Mark has spoken publicly on Sky News, London Live Television, BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio Bristol, Solent, Yorkshire and has written articles for the Daily Mail, The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent and METRO. Mark has read to assemblies and facilitated workshops in primary schools across the UK.
In 2019, Mark launched his successful podcast, Grief Is My Superpower. With over 80,000 downloads the podcast has been praised by those finding comfort in their grief and mental health.
The podcast has been ranked in the Top 10 Shows Charts on Apple Itunes with guests including The Right Honourable Stuart Lawrence, Jesse James Wood, Gabby Allen, Candice Brathwaite, and more.
See Mark on BBC Points West:
Grief and Mental Health
• Surviving childhood trauma.
• Supporting a colleague through grief.
• Recognising the warning signs to support a member of staff.
• How to support a child or young person with their grief and trauma.
• Recognising the warning signs for how to support a school pupil.
• How to channel your grief to succeed in life.
Mark is now using his childhood trauma to inspire schools and organisations to open up the conversation surrounding the taboo subject of grief and mental health.
Mark started writing and publishing books after noticing a lack of diversity in children’s books, and as a father of two dual heritage children himself, knew something had to change. His series of books feature his own children, Otis and Thea Lemon, and his debut title Otis Lemon & The Spectacular Submarine was awarded the Platinum Junior Design Award for the Children’s Book of The Year in 2016.
With his latest award-winning book, The Magical Wood, Mark drew on his own childhood trauma following his father’s murder when he was just 12 years old. Published on the 26th anniversary on his father’s death, The Magical Wood has been praised by families who are coping with grief or anticipating the death of someone they love.
• Assembly readings plus Q&A.
• Writing and designing your own story workshops.