Even though it is widely publicised, depression remains a social taboo, particularly when you are blessed with a new baby. I have had post-natal depression and anxiety after the birth of both my babies, and peri-natal (during pregnancy) anxiety with my second. After my first pregnancy, I felt such a failure (about everything) and also so ashamed of the way I felt. It took me a long time to admit that. After my second pregnancy, I was quicker to recognise post-natal depression, and with the encouragement of my husband, I sought medical help and support. 

Acacia Family Support (a Birmingham based charity) offers help to mums and families who are suffering from pre and post-natal depression. They believe that no mum/dad should suffer alone. They offer support through one to one befriending, group work sessions using CBT, telephone support and help in the home. Acacia have been a constant support to me in this past year.

I want my daughters to grow up in a society where they do not feel ashamed to talk about or seek help for their mental health. It will not change overnight, but I hope that being honest about my experience, is an incremental step towards normalising mental health difficulties. I am going to fundraise for Acacia from January to March 2021 – in doing so I hope to:

1. Raise awareness
2. Raise some money (hopefully!)
3. Keep myself mentally healthy

I am going to do a cumulative challenge, month by month increasing my commitment to self-care because good mental health is a marathon, not a sprint.

• January – moving for my mind (keeping up a 3 mile per day walking average between Jan and March)
• Less web in Feb (stopping the doom-scrolling and taking a social media break)
• Parched March (and home-schooling – heaven help me)  

However, let's be honest, the hardest part of this will be talking publicly about my experience with mental illness. I work in a profession where admitting that I have any mental weaknesses, is not a particularly comfortable experience. But logic tells me, that this is probably the sphere where raising awareness is most important. 

But for now, I have several pairs of muddy boots cluttering up the hall, and I am going to keep on walking….!