In some parts of the world, only a handful of health professionals are available to respond to the health needs of thousands of people affected by famine, conflict and natural disasters. Jaya Mental Health (previously known as unity in health) support the training and professional development of mental health care work forces and promote the creation of strong, competent health services which can have a central role in the reduction of health inequalities worldwide.

Eleanor, Thabani, Emma and Angie are going to run 13.1 miles for Jaya Mental Health. In May 2025, Thabani and Eleanor had the pleasure and the privilege of visiting colleagues from Jaya in Kathmandu, Nepal, as part of Jaya Mental Health’s partnership with Bradford District Care Trust. They had the opportunity to work with Jaya in Nepal’s only dedicated mental health hospital – Mental Hospital Lagankhel. They saw firsthand the need, alongside the dedication of staff to deliver good quality mental health care. They found the experience of talking to staff, observing practice, talking to patients and families, as well as understanding how the hospital tries to meet the needs of a such a huge population to be eye-opening.

As part of their visit, they also visited one of the general hospitals in Bhaktapur, where the hope is to open a dedicated mental health ward within the general hospital, extending access to inpatient care for those who need it most. Vital funds are required to support this to bring dedicated mental health professionals into the hospital to deliver quality care. They also learned more about the community mental health projects that Jaya are working towards, again requiring vital funds to extend access to dedicated mental health support across such a vast and culturally diverse country.

Visiting Nepal and being alongside Jaya and the staff and patients was a life changing experience and they are running to raise money to support the ongoing dedicated work that Jaya do to contribute to enhancing access to mental health care across an amazing country.