Success! Becoming a Mental Health First Aider….

A couple of weeks ago I completed a mental health first aid course with MHFA, and while it was a bit of a struggle for me emotionally, I did it, which is a big step considering how my counselling course ended. The fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has pushed everything on-line has helped me toContinue reading “Success! Becoming a Mental Health First Aider….”

Running 480 miles, in 16 Weeks, In Aid of Mind.

When the NHS appealed for volunteers to help during the current pandemic, I thought long and hard about signing up, but soon realised that with my anxiety and depression I probably wouldn’t be much help, so I didn’t do it. It wasn’t a nice feeling, realising that I wouldn’t be reliable enough to help otherContinue reading “Running 480 miles, in 16 Weeks, In Aid of Mind.”

The Benefits Brick Wall.

For most of 2019 I have been fighting with the Department for Work and Pensions, trying to find out why they are persisting with a rubbish benefits system that simply doesn’t work for people with mental health disabilities. Initially the fight was regarding Employment Support Allowance (ESA) benefits, in particular the Work Capability Assessment (WCA)Continue reading “The Benefits Brick Wall.”

Is This Why People Give Up?

A couple of weeks ago I contacted the Bedfordshire Wellbeing Service (They offer talking therapies and are part of the East London NHS Foundation Trust) to try and get some additional help for my anxiety and depression. I was originally given their leaflet by my GP because I asked him about finding additional help; youContinue reading “Is This Why People Give Up?”

Lift The Weight – The RPA

As part of the work I am doing to campaign for better mental health in the work place, I am always on the look-out for companies and organisations that are truly making a difference. The first organisation I would like to highlight is The Rugby Players Association (The RPA). I was fortunate to be ableContinue reading “Lift The Weight – The RPA”