I'm a 50-year old man living in Edinburgh, Scotland supporting charities at opposite ends of the planet to help people suffering from mental health challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused millions of people around the world to experience loneliness, isolation and distress and while we all may be affected by these issues occasionally in the short term, as the pandemic continues, these effects can become long term. 

Long-term loneliness is associated with an increased risk of certain mental health problems, including depression, anxiety and increased stress. The impact of long-term loneliness on mental health can be very hard to manage.

Throughout my life, some people that are very important to me have been affected by mental health issues in different ways, and along with the millions of others I'll never see or know personally, I'm committing to making as much of an impact as possible by raising money for organisations that directly support people with any kind of mental health needs.

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) operates over 60 services in communities across Scotland helping people with addiction, homelessness, peer support, suicide prevention and supported accommodation, among many other areas. The charity has been listening to people with mental health problems for nearly 100 years and helps them bring about policy change in Scotland and across the UK, particularly in  

• Access to Services, Support and Treatment
• Work and Finances
• Rights (and reducing stigma)
• Promoting Good Mental Health.

Why should you sponsor me?

Here are four reasons to think about:

• I'm not a runner - I hate running! Completing this goal will be very difficult (as it should be), so if you want to support me personally, then any donation will be a reward for all the circuits of the park I complete in the snow on cold winter nights!
• The charity will use your donation to help people with specific needs now, and to prevent harm in future. You might be one of those needing their support one day.
• I live with type 1 diabetes, a physical condition which can also lead to psychological difficulties. I know what it means to live with a complex lifelong condition and the challenges and barriers to achieving your maximum potential every day. SAMH helps people to help themselves and offers peer support and community engagement. 
• Ask yourself what you have done to help those in need? Is there room for more? Any amount you can donate, even the price of a cup of coffee to you can be turned into a resource that can transform lives.

What can my donation achieve?

• £10 could help people recover in SAMH's horticultural therapy services, rebuilding people’s confidence, self-esteem and practical skills
• £20 could fund SAMH's work in preventing suicide by delivering intervention training, vital research and creating information
• £100 could provide one-to-one support for children and young people who are rejected from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my SAMH JustGiving page. I'm also running a SANE (Australia) JustGiving page where you can support that national charity directly. Check out the Team link below to find it.