I launched Walk and Talk one year ago in wanting to use my own personal experience and survival from severe Mental Health illness to prevent others from enduring this or help those who are.
I had been fundraising for charities in the UK and then in Malta when I moved here in 2018 – The Samaritans UK, Dar Kenn Ghal Sahhtek and The Richmond Foundation. When my best friend who I fought beside in hospital lost her battle to mental health, I realised how lucky I was to survive and that I must use this pure understanding to create a support network for the community in Malta, also in loving memory of Alice.
The simple concept of walking in nature alongside one another from the community and with support from professional services, has become so powerful. It works! I open up about my story, or as I prefer to call it, “my reality”, in the hope this encourages others to talk honestly about how they feel and the struggles they face without fear. I endeavour to reduce to stigma surrounding mental health so that people seek support as they would with a broken arm.
I was in hospital 5 times for a year at a time, but there was minimal after-care and community support when returning to society and I continued to relapse. This revolving door became so enduring with feeling as though I could not get better, no matter how hard I fought each and every day, that led to the deepest depression and attempted suicide. I want to stop people from reaching this treacherous point in their mind.
I also recently launched an autobiography, “At War With My Mind”, from the diaries I kept through my battle throughout my battle for a decade; the hospitals, relapses, being a part of a scientific study and also how I managed to travel and volunteer in Africa at a point when I was well enough. I would like this to be educational in what it is truly like to suffer from a mental illness to again reduce the stigma and to help develop the correct support for people.
Unfortunately, though incredibly fortune to have found mental freedom, I suffer severe physical side effects from what I put my body through. Another reason to prevent people getting to this stage, a permanent reminder and a lifetime of medical implications.
My symptoms worsen each year and I currently have hormone dysfunction, osteoporosis, ovarian failure, damage to a part of my brain and such complex complications to my jaw that I now require a specialist surgeon overseas. However, the symptom of intolerance to the cold required me to move suddenly to warmer climates and led me to Malta. This has been such a blessing and the medical system has been one of the best I have ever experienced, continuing to help me to this day. Asides from this, I have such an affinity with the island as though I was always supposed to live here. This is another reason I now wish to give back to Malta for the help it has given me.
I do not let my current condition hold me back as I would prefer to live with such physical pain than the mental pain ever again and will do anything to prevent others going through this.
To help break the stigma with the power of education and learn more about myself and mental health from the frontline, you can purchase “At War With My Mind” from Amazon, Infinity Books or directly from me.
If you would like to join the community support Walk and Talk events or become involved, please follow Walk and Talk Facebook page or email [email protected] for more information.
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Do you have an experience you’d like to share with us at wham? Contact us or send us an email at [email protected]
