Welcome

[Jenny]

Welcome to the MHM Walk Leaders community.

If you would like to introduce yourself and tell the other Walk Leaders a little about yourself, please feel free to do that here.

[Sophie Bell]

Hi everyone!

My name is Sophie and I am one of the walk leaders in Ipswich. We’ve been going for just over a year.

I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder a few years back and want to show that it may seem scary to talk but it can make such a positive impact connecting with others.

Outside of MHM, I like to run (helps with my mental health and to keep me active), go brunching and watch a fair bit of Netflix (recommendations welcome).

Sophie

[Julie McPherson]

Hi, I’m Julie and I’m the walk leader for Coventry. We’ve been going for about 3 years now, although I struggled to get back into the walks following lockdown due to my own anxiety and worries. I’ve been back with the walks for about six months now, and still trying to get regulars in the group. I’m still persisting though, as it’s worth it if even just one person turns up!!! If not, we go for a walk anyway.

I’ve currently completed my Social Work degree at University, so starting a new chapter in my life! I like to work out as much as possible, and go to Clubbercise classes weekly. I like to catch up with friends and family, and thrive when I have people around me.

[David Spicer]

Hi All,

I’m David and a newbie MHM walk leader from the village of Banham in Norfolk. I am in the process of retiring as a psychotherapeutic counsellor at the moment and feel the need for some continued involvement with the support of those like me that struggle with their emotions. I have had life-long episodes with depression which came to a head around the turn of the millennium. I lost a really good job through it and fell into a deep abyss for a coupe of years. I am in a much better place now thanks to some counselling and then studying to be a counsellor with all of the personal therapy that goes with that.

My personal therapy really helped but it is much too hard to access on the NHS and prohibitively expensive privately. My hope is that in being a walk leader I can help others discover how much power they have in their own hands to come though it. By learning to listen to others we learn to listen to ourselves and befriend ourselves. For me, this is what has kept the deep disabling depression at bay for 15+ years. Sure, I still have tough days and probably always will but getting out under the big Norfolk skies and into nature is by far the best medication I have discovered and I’m keen to share in that.

My walks will be around Breckland and South Norfolk among trees, fields and fens. It’s nice easy walking where the focus can be on being together and not how good at walking we are. It won’t be counselling but I hope it will be a very warm, welcoming, and person-centred group.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by David Spicer. Reason: Grammar and typos
• This reply was modified 1 year, 10 months ago by David Spicer. Reason: Another typo

[Andrew Colley]

Hello! I am just about to launch a MHM walk on Hardwick Heath in Bury St Edmunds with my c0 leader Penny. Previously I lead this walk under the umbrella of OneLifeSuffolk wellbeing walks but now its a joint project. I also lead wellbeing walks in Newmarket. We are hoping for a good turn out as I believe there used to be a MHM walk in Nowton Park, also in Bury.

[Keeley Berry]

Hi All,

I am Keeley and am just under two weeks away from launching as a walk Leader for a Mental Health Mates walk in Crewe, Cheshire. I looked to join a walk myself a couple of months ago and after finding two nearby, but still too far for me as I actually get quite anxious about travel, I decided that maybe the best thing I could do about the situation was to become a walk leader myself!

I have struggled with a range of mental health conditions myself for as long as I can remember, including disordered eating, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Generalised Anxiety Disorder. I have had a range of treatments, private and NHS including hospital admission in my teens, some effective some not so much. Around a year ago I discovered Bryony Gordon after reading Bella Mackies book “Jog On”. After reading some of Bryonys books, and listening to her Podcasts I started running and walking for my own mental relief and that’s when I decided that I would like to help others, if I can, to experience the relief walking, talking and finding my “we” has given me.

Hope you are all still Walking and if anyone can give me any top tips, or advice about the walks please do!

Keeley.

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