Before the summer of 2012 I had never really put much thought into Mental Health. I was 25 and living abroad as a scuba instructor and was at the top of my game. On August 16th 2012 my whole life changed in ways that even now I find hard to explain. Diving on a beautiful summers day in Italy, I suddenly came face-to-face with death and my own mortality. Struck down by a very serious case of Decompression Illness AKA The Bends I suddenly found myself fighting for life on the deck of a boat in the middle of the med. With some luck, a major internal battle and the skill of some very brave people I managed to pull through but not before the mental damage had been done. When I was eventually allowed out of the hospital and allowed home to England, I became aware that what had happened had changed me and scared me. Over the next year or so I became more and more emotional and would wake up fearing I was back on the boat or back under the water. My outgoing attitude and my love for life had receded and I found myself in a very dark world with no hint of light. I would battle over and over internally as to why it had happened to me and why I hadn't died. At the lowest point I felt I had been somewhat cheated out of my life and the thought of death became a very real release. I had avoided death only to find myself wanting it. My life spiralled out of control and I had the very real sense that I could not control it. Finally when I could take it no longer I decided I should take my own life. Had it not been for the love and support of my family at this time I really think I wouldn't be here today. My family got me the help I so desperately needed and the doctors started me on medication to help steady the emotions. Slowly I started to see some light. 

Since the accident in 2012 and being diagnosed with PTSD in 2013 I have come a long way on my personal mental health journey. There are so many people to thank but there are also so many people to help. I have my good days and my bad ones but thanks to charity's such as SANE I have learnt how to cope and how to handle the rough. I see mental health like a mountain range. There are peaks and valleys. Beautiful views and places that never see the sun. Thats why I chose this challenge. To battle through what i'm sure is going to be tough at times and to summit 24 peaks in 24 hours really epitomises what its like living with a mental health problem. 

I want to raise much needed money for Sane so they can carry on doing amazing work and continue to help others along their own journeys. Please donate what you can to this incredible charity. 

Thanks

I chose SANE because during my recovery I found them to be a great source for inspiration and also somewhere to turn when I couldn’t sleep or couldn’t concentrate. I’ve taken the time to add a little bit about the charity and the work they do but they are definitely worth checking out on Twitter for more.

“SANE was established over 30 years ago by our founder and CEO Marjorie Wallace CBE following the overwhelming public response to a series of articles she wrote entitled 'The Forgotten Illness' which were published in The Times. The charity has three main objectives: we seek to raise awareness and combat stigma about mental illness and campaign to improve mental health services; provide frontline services to ease the burden upon people with mental health problems, their families and carers; promote and host research into the causes of, and more effective treatments for, serious mental illness.”

By donating you will be helping SANE to keep their amazing work going.