Jay's Story
“At the end of 2021 I suffered an unexpected, traumatic event that caused me significant psychological distress, leading to the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I didn't know much about either of these two mental health conditions and, despite being a fiercely independent guy, I knew I needed help to guide me through this challenging period in my life. The support that Mind provided was a massive boost for me - the online resources, communities and advice gave me comfort that there are a variety of treatments available.
Despite this, only 1 in 8 adults with a mental health problem are currently getting any kind of treatment. That's why I'm running in this year’s Vitality London 10,000 in support of Mind - to help raise funds and awareness of the various treatments available for therapy and help to normalise the conversation around mental health. Thanks to the guidance of Mind, I'm now a few months into Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy and feeling even more positive about the future. My mission is to share my story and spread the word that getting help makes you an even stronger person than you already are!
I passionately believe that the key ingredient for leading a healthy, happy and fulfilled life is love. To give love, you first need to love yourself and everything about you - including the parts of you that you don't like so much! Mind is an amazing charity as they truly help you transform your life from a 360-degree perspective - from phone support, online resources and tools to practical guidance and connections to qualified therapists/advice.
The fundraising opportunities with Mind are really fun and unique, giving you access to a variety of events such as marathons that would otherwise be very difficult to get a place for. I also love that the events themselves are a great way to build self-confidence and love for yourself. Training for the Vitality 10,000 has meant more time spent outdoors exercising, and less time overthinking about stuff that negatively affects my mood.
Last but not least, the buzz around the event build-up has been amazing - I've loved the support from the fundraising officers and felt really privileged to be given free personalised merchandise (i.e. running vests) for the event too!”
