An 18-year-old mental health champion is set to share his personal experiences and discuss the role animals and art have played in his life during a talk at the Erin Arts Centre.

Jessie Quirk will deliver A Mind That Wanders: Mental Health, Animals & My Life today (October 15) at 7.30pm, coinciding with his first art exhibition at the Port Erin venue.

Jessie, who is neurodivergent, has experienced serious mental health difficulties and spent six months in hospital in the Isle of Man and in Sheffield last year.

He now hopes to use his experiences to help others feel less alone and encourage more open conversations about mental health.

In March, Jessie spoke to a sell-out audience at the Erin Arts Centre about how his animals help him manage his emotions. The event also gave attendees the opportunity to meet some of his snakes, leaf insects and mantises.

There won’t be any animals at Thursday's talk.

Jessie said: ‘It’s important that society learns to talk openly about mental health and I want to use my experiences to help others and let them know they are not alone.

‘There is support out there, from organisations such as Ed’s Man Club, Isle of Neurodiversity, and Isle Stand Up to Suicide. But more needs to be done, and Government needs to invest more resources to meet the increasing mental health needs of the island.’

Jessie's exhibition, ‘A Mind That Wanders: Shadows, Paranoia & Creepy Crawlies’, features artwork created over several years, including pieces from his art GCSE and work produced during and after his time in hospital.

The free exhibition, also at the Erin Arts Centre, runs until Saturday, November 21, and is open from 10am to 4.30pm, Tuesday to Friday, as well as during shows and events at the centre.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to meet Jessie and discuss his work between midday and 4pm on Saturday, October 24.

Tickets for Thursday's talk cost £5 and are available online through TicketSource.