For far too long, mental health has been held in the shadows and has been a subject that people are unwilling to talk about. This is particularly prevalent in men who don’t want to appear weak or emotional. This needs to stop as more and more people are being affected by mental health issues.

It is currently estimated that 1 in 4 people will be affected at some point in their lives and that the ratio is increasing. As someone you know will be affected, why does no one talk about it?

Help us raise awareness and bring it out of the shadows

To promote the effect that improving your physical health and looking after yourself can have on your mental health, I will be taking part in the City of York Triathlon. This involves swimming 400m, cycling 18km and running 5km. Hopefully by getting into a training routine I can improve how I think and how I feel and raise some awareness of mental illness.

I set up the Dan Rhodes Foundation in memory of my best friend who took his life following a long battle with anxiety and depression. I know first hand how mental illness can affect you and want to do all I can to help the fight against the stigma and to encourage men to speak out and get help if they need it.