I have decided to do some fundraising across the month of July running/cycling 100 miles across the course of the month and I am aiming to raise £500.

This is in aid of raising money for the services that have been able to help me through some quite mentally challenging times in my life including Talkworks which is a free NHS funded mental health talk therapy service which I have found overwhelmingly supportive for getting myself back on track and back into employment.

For a long time I kept quite regarding how much I was struggling even to those closest around me and as a young man the idea of actually talking through your problems can seem somewhat scary or even seen as a weakness by many. However, I got to the point where the struggle simply got too much for me and I decided that I so desperately needed to speak to someone that wouldn’t judge me and could even provide me with the support I so desperately needed.

By no means was I fixed overnight. I was on the talkworks service for over a year and at some point during that time I found what I needed to get myself out of the pit I was in mentally. 

I’m not saying the service will work for everyone nor am I saying it will take as long as it took me. It is a tool to use, the effectiveness of that tool depends on the dedication of its wielder. It took me a long time until I realised how effective it was and through baby steps using the service, I have been able to get myself back on my feet and can comfortably say I know that if I were ever in a similar position again I have techniques and exercises I can use to ease the strain on my mental health. 

I would be so grateful to anyone that can donate to this cause. I think mental health isn’t spoken about enough and if my story encourages someone to use the Talkworks service then I believe it has achieved its goal!!!!