OW Spotlight Patrick Melville
Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I am a mental health expert and run mental health programmes through my company, Melville Mental Solutions. This question brings back a lot of thoughts and emotions: I was one of the first boarders in the new Hopetoun House in 1992 when it was just a boys’ House. I remember meeting the Queen and Prince Philip in the Third Block dorm and showing them my bunk bed and desk, which was quite terrifying.
After Wellington, I took a gap year working and travelling around South America, then completed a Combined Honours degree at Newcastle upon Tyne University. I decided to go into non-vocational work in international marketing, which included buying advertising space in airports. I still keep in touch with other Wellingtonians; I am godfather to some of their kids, and some OWs are godparents to mine – we can’t escape each other!
What inspired you to work within the social impact space?
I first went into the marketing and media space, from buying advertising space in airports around the world to more mainstream media planning and buying. I enjoyed building relationships and discussing unique brand stories with all my contacts.
My focus on the social impact space came to light when I was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2017. I had a young family and had to stop my commercial work. Thankfully, I received medical treatment but realised the need to understand my mind and how to do self-care. While recovering, I decided to change my purpose to help others, and I now run in-house mental health programmes. My services have grown organically, and I smile when I see the smiles and support I have given others. You can find out more on my website: melville-solutions.com. I am also a trained lay-preacher and gave a sermon in the College chapel four years ago.
How do you maintain your own personal wellbeing?
I call it my own ‘Circle of Strength’. My life learning and training have taught me how we are unique mental brands. We often don’t support and care for ourselves, but now I make more time. It is like not going to work with an illness that you spread to colleagues! My Circle of Strength includes activities that make me smile. For me, these are hitting a ball (tennis, golf, footy), being with my family, meeting friends, playing the piano (badly), sudoku, or listening to a song. These are all linked to my own personal passion and brand – everyone is different.
What is your career/personal highlight so far?
Previously, I focused on the money I made or the budgets I managed, like £40m with UBS. Now, it is about the social and wellbeing difference I make through my work. In January, I ran a programme in Nairobi, Kenya – a very different culture, but still, everyone has mental health. In May, I interviewed the founder of Mooma Foods at a global marketing event. He is a friend of mine and, in front of 250 people, we discussed the role of mental health through his inspirational story. I shared my own mental health expertise to back up his learning. He started his business from nothing in a basement near Waterloo and sold it. It is an inspirational story, and you can watch it here: melville-solutions.com/media.
What would you say are ‘must-have’ life skills for young people today?
Listen. Just listening is a ‘must have’ skill. I have found that many times listening is core to building trust and stronger relationships with anyone. I was never taught (even at Wellington College) but realised the power it gives: speaking to my brain surgeon, talking to my family, re-connecting with OWs, taking a brief and pitching to an MMS client.
Other ‘must have’ skills are:
- Sharing worries with trusted contacts. Despite my mind shouting at me ‘not to’ share my thoughts, it helps me look at my problems in a rational way for the next steps and to get the right help.
- Patience. We live in a world that focuses on the short term. We have to be perfect now, without learning and space. I enjoyed interviewing OW Sophia Miller (Ap17) about this earlier in the year, which you can listen to here: https://bit.ly/Resiliencepodcast1
What is the best piece of advice you have ever been given?
“We are not statistics” and “Speak to trusted people”. We need to speak to trusted sources and ask ‘why’ more often. When I was diagnosed with a malignant grade 4 brain tumour, another patient told me these phrases. Yes, my prognosis was bad, but this helped me focus on what could be done. I used this advice to focus on the ways I could ‘control’ and ‘drive positivity’ and drive my own personal and unique focus. And here I am.
Do you have a fond memory from your time at Wellington that you would like to share or perhaps a particular teacher that really stood out?
My fondest memory was playing cricket on Turf. I was in the 1st XI for two years and only have positive memories of bowling left-arm in-swing up the hill. A favourite teacher was my Housemaster, James Breen. While he appeared as a strict and grumpy teacher, the older I got, the more I appreciated his role. In Upper Sixth, we got on, and I saw him a few times after school. He was one of the reasons why I went to teach in a boarding school in Buenos Aires called St George’s. Oh, the tuck shop was a winner, although my parents didn’t always agree….
With thanks to Patrick Melville for this OW Spotlight