My journey with mental health issues really developed and reached its head whilst I was at University. I experienced first hand the impact that depression and the feeling of isolation had on my studies and social interactions - culminating in me leaving and having to resit an extra year to catch up.

Now in a coaching capacity - working with students on an almost daily basis across the East Midlands with Nottingham Mavericks, I am again seeing and hearing, how regularly students are suffering with mental health issues - and the impact that it is having on them.

The work of Student Minds is transforming the state of student mental health all over the country, helping those in higher education to thrive! They support students to develop their knowledge, confidence and skills to look after their own mental health, support their peers and recognise when they or people around them need help. Student Mind's work collaboratively with institutions, student unions and other organisations involved in higher education, supporting them to take a whole-university approach to mental health. I know that had they been around at the time I needed them, my experience in higher education and with my own mental health would have been hugely improved - therefore I am passionate about supporting them to improve the lives of current and future students who are, or may, go through similar experiences that I did.