I’ve been an NHS doctor for nearly 5 years now and the last 2 have definitely been the most difficult. I have suffered from chronic migraines for as long as I can remember and this has certainly impacted my mental health in the past. Learning to cope with its consequences has made me quite resilient as a person and a doctor. 

When COVID hit in 2020, the pressures at work rose significantly. It is difficult to describe the stresses faced by myself and my NHS colleagues at the height of the pandemic. Needless to say, this period resulted in a burn out and I needed to take some time out to recover. 

We are always taught to exercise to maintain our physical health but why have we never been taught to do the same for our mental health? Having coping mechanisms and a healthy mindset is becoming an increasingly difficult thing to achieve and it’s something that isn’t about to get any easier. 

I am running the london marathon (migraines permitting) to address the inevitable mental health crisis that has followed COVID. Your donated funds will go a long way to ensuring that no one suffers in silence. Through increased awareness and funding everyone can work towards achieving a healthy body AND mind.

I want to be a GP in a world where we can actually help our patients improve their mental health with the resource to do so. MIND matters.