After ten years away I’m lucky enough to move back to the Shire to be with family and friends. As medics we move around a lot and our social network is repeatedly obliterated and strained however I have always been lucky enough to feel loved and supported; enough to turn up to work, smile every evening and study for and pass my exams.

 Not everyone has this...80% lifetime risk of depression and anxiety. From eating disorders to bipolar disorder to crying, fear and panic attacks,self harm and suicide, I’ve seen and experienced so many stories in people I know and love as well as patients. We live in a gratuitous world of living via picture message rather than talking and it can be difficult to remember everyone struggles.

Much as I love the NHS there are obvious areas it cannot meet demand, be it pre hospital (air ambulances) or community psychiatry; these are areas relying purely on charities (think of it as private medical insurance!) by donating not only do we literally fund these services but we allow experts to choose how to invest this money on the frontline with less political bickering. 

I’d really like to raise £1000 for MIND over the course of this year because I think it’s a brilliant charity which takes on so much for people struggling when they cannot access medical psychiatric services via the NHS. I’ll be doing an event a month including and not limited to charity fancy dress horse ride, obstacle course, charity rounders game, basic first aid and CPR teaching session, sponsored swim and cycle and car boot/old book sale! I hate swimming and cycling so true martyrdom is calling.

Thanks for all and any assistance and support over the years my social network, lucky to have had you!