I grew up in a culture where people don't talk about mental health even when mental struggles are so obvious that they affect other people's lives. As a teenager, I was scared to discuss mental health issues within my family and I still see consequences of this in my and family members' behaviours. I believe that by raising awareness and making it normal to talk about our mental health we can make each other happier and healthier every day.

I also believe that it is important to care about our mental state not only when things get rough and the issues are growing like a snowball, but also when we just get a bad day or struggle to express an emotion. One of my favourite solutions to combat stress is running. I slowed down a lot during covid but this summer I remembered the excitement I experienced during the race day last time (in the photo) and decided to set a new goal for myself.

I am training to run a half-marathon to raise awareness (and money) for the mental health charity, Mind. In any given year, mental health problems will affect one in four people in the UK, responsible for the largest burden of disease in the country. Mind offers a range of support and services to members of the community who are struggling daily with their mental health. Just £25 could pay for a low-income client with serious enduring mental health issues to attend a Managing Anger and Difficult Emotions group. Grateful for any donations!