I am going to walk up Snowdon with my Dad on the 14th of October (weekend of world mental health day). September is suicide prevention month and so this is why I want to start raising money for mental health charities like YoungMinds, to spread more awareness. This is very special to me because I have had a long history with mental health, and my family have supported me the whole way. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for 4 years, turning more severe in the last 2 years. There were times when I didn’t think I would get through it, but I did and I am still fighting now.

I walked up Snowdon with my Dad back in 2018 before I was affected by mental health, but one year later everything changed. I struggled walking up Snowdon but I completed it and it has always been something my Dad reminds me of to keep me going. He reminds me of the strategy we used, which wasn’t to look at the top of the mountain, but instead to just focus on the next little bit one step at a time and we will get there.

I want to do this again to show other people no matter how hard you are struggling, its okay, all you have to do is just focus on one step at a time. I am still struggling but I’m starting to see the light again, and I’m doing it for all the people I love and care about. I am so grateful to have such a supportive and loving family and network around me which I realise some people don‘t have. But there is always someone to talk to, thats why I want to raise money to support these charities that help myself and so many other people.

No donation is too small. I want to help as many people as possible and tell them its going to be okay. Mental health matters, you matter.

Thank you for your love and support,

Mia Gardner

YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.