There was no charity or institution that got me better - it was only the kindness, support and patience of the people around me and their willingness to listen whilst I talked.
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Hello! My name is Jonny...
Hello! My name is Jonny...
I have had my mental health struggles since I was back at university, but for many years I didn't speak about them. I thought they were just my demons to deal with and I ended up trying to fight them on my own through a variety of punishing means.
I now know, after the months of hospital, medication, therapy, reading, journalling and talking that made up my recovery: I have anxiety and I have depression, and at it's most severe it took the form of some very scary psychotic episodes.
In 2020 (what a great year that was for the whole world!) those demons finally caught up with me. After several warning shots, my life crashed one night.
I had spent the previous 10 or so years convincing myself there was no help for me, no cure, no logical solution. When someone is sick with their mental health, you see your whole life through that lens, and I saw only a world that would be better off if I wasn't there, and a world that would reject what I would say as nonsense.
But, mental health lies. And one of it's big lies is: there is help.
That help required no money, no fundraising, no investment. That help came in the form of the people around me who listened to me when life finally had me speak about it.
That's why, when I run the London Marathon on April 23rd, I do it not for sponsorship, but just for you (kind, lovely person reading this) to support me with a promise. A promise that you too will listen if someone reaches out to you for mental health support, and a pledge that you will speak if you too find yourself on that mental health battlefield.
You being here today on this website is all I need. Your visit counts as one more person who pledges to speak and promises to listen.
Thank you.
"That's all very nice Jonny but I would like to donate something..."
I was really keen to do something that did not make people feel a pressure to donate money - and honestly and truly your support by visiting this website today is more then enough. The whole point I seek to make is the way out of mental health is not through money.
But, mum said some people will want to donate some money!! If that is the case please read on...
I was really blessed to have Kellie, my family and my friends around me when I finally turned for help. Without their kindness, care, patience and presence I'm not sure where I would be today.
However, there are many, many people who do not have that support. Some people don't have that family or friend network they can fall back on, some don't feel that they can.
With that in mind, if you do want to donate to a cause, there are two charities I would like you to consider and I've popped them below.
Thank you x
Mind: For folks who need advice, guidance or reassurance, Mind offers a helpline that 128,000 people used last year. They also offer loads of information to people still trying to navigate through their mental health worries alone, and are the lead voice in the UK for the campaign of awareness around Mental Health.
Samaritans: For people in crisis with their mental health, Samaritans are often the last port of call. They answer a call every 10 seconds to someone in need, and I have had multiple people through my mental health journey signpost me their way if ever needed - many speaking of the life-changing support they personally received from the service.
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