Poor mental health is one of the biggest issues that impacts society today and we in Defence are not immune. Within the Royal Air Force we work for Number 2 Group and as a Group, we have been trying to improve in how we support our Whole Force through the development and release of a Group Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy. To launch the Strategy and to increase Mental Health Awareness, 4 of us (Justin Wall, Gez Currie, Graham Ivison and me, Chez Davies) have chosen to tell our stories with respect to mental health and to support Mind and the RAF Central Fund by getting on our bikes and cycling around every RAF station that 2 Group supports. So that’s 630(ish) miles over 7 days. While we are all riding to promote awareness, Chez & Graham are supporting Mind, and Justin & Gez are supporting the RAF Central Fund. To read their stories or help them out, please donate through the specific rider. Many thanks and we will keep you posted on our progress.

Personal Perspective

I've never suffered from long-term mental health, but I have had a brief insight into what it feels like to be affected by it. In 2016 I had a road biking accident when I lived in Belgium. The front forks of my bike snapped and the first thing I knew about it was when I woke up in the ambulance being put into a neck brace, flat on my back strapped to a back board - I was knocked out for about 15 minutes. I was taken to the local hospital, there they put 28 stitches in my face, scanned my brain and identified that I had broken my T7 vertebrae. I spent the next 5 weeks at home on my back as the vertebrae healed. When I was initially released from hospital I went to see my doctor so he was aware of my injuries and could plan to get me into physio as soon as I was back on my feet - and back on the bike. He warned me that due to my head injury I may feel emotional and upset about things without warning. I laughed at the thought, having mountain biked for years, a little road bike accident wasn't going to put me down!  Then 2 weeks into my recovery, when I was in the house on my own and struggling with my physical injuries, I found myself falling into a deep depression, inexplicably feeling tearful and emotional and completely lost as to how I was going to move forward. I remember looking in the mirror and telling myself that this wasn't me! I recalled some of the techniques that a friend of mine had once talked about as he had suffered with depression and stress and decided to implement them myself. I also sat down with a piece of paper and came up with a plan of how I could resolve the issues which I had identified and slowly after a week or so, I came round. I spoke to my wife about it and shared how I was feeling, she was incredibly supportive (as always)!  I then found that I was having issues remembering things with people dismissing this as a sign of old age, which became incredibly frustrating. But a doctor friend who was in the cycling club recognised this as a symptom of the impact my head had taken, she suggested I book an appointment and ask to be referred to Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre for assessment. I did and after assessment they diagnosed that the part of my brain which dealt with short term member had been damaged. A few months later after a number of visits and fantastic support from the amazing team of military and civilian staff there, I found that my memory had improved and so had my general mental state.  

This occurred prior to me taking command of a unit, it gave me an insight into the lives of those who suffer in silence and deal with their own mental state on a daily basis. It also showed me how quickly these issues can develop, in anyone. I was determined that we would look after our people on the unit and develop a mental health strategy that made them feel fully supported. I think we have achieved this across the team, with multiple personnel helping to make it happen.

When I saw this event, I was keen to get involved - cycling had provided me with a further means of recovery as 6 weeks after the accident I was back on the bike (a new one) and have used it as my therapy ever since 'Miles are my Meditation'!!

RAF Central Funds and Mind support those people who need assistance in dealing with their mental health issues and personal resilience, I am honoured to be riding in the name of them both.