´óÏó´«Ã½

Celebrities including Nikki Grahame, Joe McGann and Meera Syal are queuing up to bare their gnashers and reveal what makes them smile for the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s What Makes You Smile? campaign, which is urging the nation to smile its way to better mental wellbeing by highlighting the health benefits of simple positive things we can all do every day.

In the run up to World Mental Health Day on Saturday 10 October, the What Makes You Smile? campaign is live online at bbc.co.uk/headroom and at the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Big Screens around the country.

It invites celebrities and members of the public to share what makes them smile and encourages people to do something everyday to make them smile, taking a simple step towards better mental health.

The campaign will culminate in a series of fun events on 10 October at six Big Screen locations – Edinburgh, Swansea, Hull, Norwich, Portsmouth and Walthamstow.

There is a host of celebrity involvement in the campaign with stars making personal appearances and answering Q&As at the regional events plus fun activities for all the family and special screenings of the quirky What Makes You Smile? films.

The stars appearing at the regional events include ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 1's Aled Jones (Swansea), TV presenter Trisha Goddard (Norwich), campaigner and presenter Esther Rantzen (Portsmouth), comedian Shazia Mirza (Walthamstow) and former Big Brother star Nikki Grahame (Hull). And those recording special messages include Meera Syal and Joe McGann.

Campaign Executive Nina Bell explains: "Smiling is the universal sign of wellbeing. It's scientifically proven that smiling makes you feel and look happier, healthier and more attractive. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Headroom is all about finding simple, effective ways of encouraging people to take better care of their mental health – and what could be simpler than smiling?"

What Makes Them Smile? – celebrities share their grinning secrets:

"My children's jokes, or more precisely my 16-year-old telling me a joke and my three-year-old pretending he understands it and laughing wildly anyway!" (Meera Syal)

"My dogs, Baby and Thumbelina, make me smile." (Nikki Grahame)

"Spending time outdoors and in nature makes me smile." (Joe McGann)

To tell us What Makes You Smile, and find out what makes everyone else grin go to bbc.co.uk/headroom.

Notes to Editors

´óÏó´«Ã½ Headroom is a cross-platform campaign from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Learning to encourage people to look after their mental health and wellbeing.

Headroom's main aim is to raise awareness of simple steps that people can take to help look after their own mental health and improve their lives.

Be it exam stress, relationship headaches, insomnia, anxiety or depression, Headroom will provide on-going support and information, as well as offering individuals the chance to share their experiences in a safe environment.

As well as its extensive online offering, the Headroom team take their practical advice on a tour in the Headroom Tent and undertake grassroots projects with local organisations such as libraries.

There is also be a range of on-air programming across ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV and radio, creating bespoke programmes or integrated contributions to ongoing series, both factual and drama.

FW