Ella Collins
TCS London Marathon 2023 - Team Mind
Fundraising for Mind
Story
I am currently a third-year student paramedic studying at the University of Surrey. Within both a paramedic and personal capacity, I have realised and witnessed first-hand the importance, and often difficulty, of maintaining good mental health.
On placement, it became a particular area of interest as I found it one of the most challenging aspects of my job. I had to understand the complexity of mental health and how, as a future paramedic, I can best support and help those struggling. I believe I can speak for all healthcare professionals when I say, that we all go into our roles with the hopes to help and care for others. We are taught clear care pathways and guidelines for how to treat someone's physical health, however, this pathway is usually less clear for those struggling with mental health. I've realised that the most powerful care I can provide is initiating first conversations, and giving the encouragement and empowerment to seek support and help. Unfortunately, my role as a student paramedic results in limited time with each patient, therefore I recognise the importance of charities such as Mind, in providing this continuous guidance and support to those taking their first steps.
The nature of this job has also taught me the importance of looking after my own mental well-being alongside colleagues. Tragically, paramedics bear one of the highest suicide rates among all healthcare professions. Therefore, I'm incredibly passionate about funding this charity in the hopes of encouraging that open conversation about mental health and removing the stigma of asking for help. With this in mind, I understand how valuable this charity is and the life-changing impacts it has on its service users, which is why I am running the marathon in 2023 in aid of Mind.
