10 years ago, I suffered the tragic loss of my father so young. Grief can of course be the trigger for lots of mental health issues. Fortunately, I took the advice to seek counselling, and was able to manage my grief and prevent developing such issues. 

However, since becoming a father myself, Mental Health has certainly impacted my life, my family and my friends. Since the traumatic birth of my daughter Lily, Sophie has struggled with complex PTSD and anxiety. Fortunately, Sophie was diagnosed and has received therapy and support ever since. 

Living with somebody going through mental health difficulties certainly comes with its difficult times. However, in line with the work the Mental Health Foundation does, it has allowed me to understand the importance of prevention. Prevention can help all of us, whether we currently have good mental health or not. We all have mental health that changes depending on what’s happening in our lives.

I have learnt ways to protect my own mental health and support Sophie and more recently some close friends through their own battles and feel that this is a fantastic cause to promote by doing this challenge. But at the same time, in memory of a very important person in my life. My Dad! 

The Mental Health Foundation is the UKs charity for everyone's mental health. With prevention at the heart of what they do, the Mental Health Foundation aim to find and address the sources of mental health problems so that people and communities can thrive.