Walking the walk and talking the talk for Mind
Jonathan blogs about his amazing trek from Shetland to Galway to raise money for us and spread the mental health message.
I am currently on day 188 of a 290-day walk from Shetland in Scotland to Galway in Ireland. I started on 1 January and hope to finish on 18 October.
My aim is to raise £80,000 for Mind and three other mental health charities while sharing my own lived experience of mental health and neurodiversity along the way.
After years of struggling with bipolar disorder type II, depression, addiction and dyslexia, I wanted to put these experiences to good use. This walk is my way of sharing some experience, strength and hope with others.
"There were times when the mental anguish became so severe that I questioned whether life was worth continuing."
By the age of seven, I knew something was wrong, although I had no idea what it was. For years I thought the answer was more willpower, harder work, a different career, a different country, more education, more exercise, or somehow becoming a different person.
Eventually, I reached a point where I could no longer carry on. In my late 30s, I saw a therapist for the first time. Over the next two years I saw the therapist and then a psychiatrist about my clinical depression, bipolar disorder and struggles with addiction.
There were times when the mental anguish became so severe that I questioned whether life was worth continuing. Looking back, I can see how ill I was, but at the time I thought the answer was simply to try harder and keep pushing on.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that asking for help is not weakness, it is a great strength. Today, thanks to professional help, medication and the support of others, I have enjoyed more than three years of stability and wellbeing.
“Whether Scouts, students, business professionals, or people I meet on a footpath, almost everyone has been touched by mental health.”
One of the biggest surprises of this walk has been the kindness of strangers. Another surprise is how willing people are to talk about mental health once someone starts the conversation. Whether they are Scouts, students, café staff, business professionals, or people I meet on a footpath, almost everyone has been touched by mental health or neurodiversity in some way.
One of the highlights of the walk has been giving talks.
I was particularly struck by a group of Scouts aged 14 to 16. Their knowledge of mental health and the quality of their questions impressed me enormously. A day later, I spoke to a younger Scout group aged 10 to 14. I was slightly nervous beforehand, but it turned into one of the most enjoyable sessions I have had. We simply talked together about life, mental health and wellbeing.
The following week, I heard the younger Scouts had raised money to donate to the charities, which I found very moving.
In Northumberland. I met a young person walking their dog.
As we talked, they became emotional and told me that one of their parents had been through a very difficult period with their mental health. They said they never normally walked this route and something nudged them to choose it that day. Before we parted, I asked if they would like a hug. They said yes.
There have been several moments like this on the walk, that feel like more than just coincidence, as if something greater is at play.
"Some of the toughest days have been when it has rained continuously from morning until evening."
I knew that starting in Shetland on 1st January was not likely to be easy.
Fortunately, a local resident walked with me on my first day. Without their encouragement, I am not sure I would have had the confidence to head out in the strong winds and driving rain.
Some of the toughest days have been when it has rained continuously from morning until evening. Eventually, the water seeps its way through my waterproof jacket, trousers and shoes. On those days, I cannot tell you how pleased I am when I finally reach my accommodation, take off my wet clothes and have a hot drink.
The first time I packed my 65-litre rucksack, it weighed 27 kilograms. I could barely lift it and immediately realised this was not going to work.
By the end of the first month, I had abandoned the idea of wild camping and discovered that staying with friends, friends of friends, charities, youth hostels and B&Bs was a much better fit for the walk, because I met more people.
Today, my entire load weighs about 10 kilograms and fits into a 36-litre rucksack.
During a typical day, I walk for around two hours and twenty minutes, before stopping for a short break. At each break, I drink water, sometimes with electrolytes, and treat myself to one of the two Snickers bars I carry with me.
Every day I try to find somewhere to have a cup of tea and a slice of millionaire’s shortbread.
Another favourite is a pint of lemonade with blackcurrant and ice. I stopped drinking alcohol and taking recreational drugs in my early twenties when I realised they only made my mental health and behaviour worse.
"I have become much more appreciative of the natural world and have been amazed by the beautiful buildings I have seen."
These days, my pleasures are: simple food, a comfortable bed, and if I catch up on my social media and messages, then an episode or two of a current favourite drama series.
I have learned so much during these first five months.
I have become much more appreciative of the natural world. The sound of birdsong, water running over stones, the wind moving through trees and the ever-changing colours of the sky all bring me a sense of peace. I have also been amazed by the beautiful buildings I have seen in cities, towns and villages throughout the journey.
Another lesson has been the importance of pacing myself. I used to rely on determination and willpower. Now I am more likely to assess whether it’s better to rest for a day if I have a pain in my legs because continuing to walk could hinder me over the next few months.
It has also become clear that challenges with mental health and neurodiversity are as common as challenges with physical health, and people are becoming more comfortable talking about what used to be taboo subjects. It is equally clear that the lack of adequate mental health support means that the help given by charities is crucial and, for many, a lifesaver.
The name of both my memoir and this walk is Finding Peace of Mind. Looking back over the journey so far, I think this phrase perfectly describes both what I was searching for all those years ago and what I have been fortunate enough to find on this journey.
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