A hospital radio DJ who battled with mental health problems has been awarded a prize for broadcasting.

Radio Harrow presenter David Stone recently won Newcomer of Year at the Hospital Broadcasting Association Awards.

The station broadcasts from Northwick Park Hospital and focuses on the health and wellbeing of the community.

The 29-year-old has struggled with mental health issues since his teens and one of his first broadcast experiences was interviewing himself about his own mental health before revealing his true identity at the end.

He said: “I began suffering from anxiety and panic attacks when I was young and it got progressively worse to a point where I was housebound for several months.”

It was during this time that friends suggested David apply for a two-week course in radio production.

“Things couldn’t have got any worse for me at that stage and radio seemed the perfect way to express myself,” he said. “Something just clicked and I knew this is what I wanted to do.”

He added: “I’m open about my mental health and hope it encourages other people to speak up. It’s still makes a lot of people uncomfortable but that doesn’t mean you sweep it under the carpet.”

David’s enthusiasm for radio has seen him pick up paid work as a producer on a sports station where he spoke with double Olympic gold medallist Kelly Holmes.

But he still has time for more modest topics: “I’d really like to interview a stamp collector so if anyone is out there,” he said.

This is a Show is broadcast every Monday night between 7-8pm.

www.radioharrow.org