Last year, 30,409 people who started treatment for alcohol dependence also had a mental health issue. This number may not sound particularly high – but most people with an alcohol dependency problem don't get treatment for it (an estimated 82%), meaning this figure is likely to be a fraction of the real number of people with a drinking problem in accordance with a mental health issue. 

This January, we wanted to bring attention to this number because we believe alcohol and its impact on mental health is a topic that isn't discussed enough. In order to do so, we've set ourselves the physical challenge of walking a total of 30,409 metres every week of January, which every member of our team will be taking on individually. 

Over the course of the month, we'll be regularly posting about our progress on our Instagram page (@talkingmh) as well as raising awareness of the relationship between alcohol and mental health on our website (www.talkingmentalhealth.com/spotlight-alcohol-mental-health) through articles and various resources.

About Talking Mental Health

Talking Mental Health is a content creation company with the sole intention to change the conversation about mental health. We believe that creating approachable and engaging mental health-focused content increases the likelihood of more informed conversations about mental health, breaking down long-established stigmas and increasing the likelihood of people seeking help when it's needed.

About JustGiving

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to Alcohol Change UK. So it's the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.