Hello!

I'm taking on The Great York Walk, a 25 mile walk  -ouch - in order to raise funds for Mentally Fit York at the University of York.

Mental ill-health doesn't discriminate and while we're experts in mental health or not, we should all be able to feel safe and supported in talking to each other about our mental health. 

The records I help to care to care for at the Borthwick Institute for Archives are a testament to York's progressive attitudes to mental health care - not least in the archives of The Retreat hospital, Clifton Hospital and Bootham Park Hospital.

My walk will be in aid of the Mentally Fit York Fund, which will promote good mental health both at the University and across the city of York. Your support will be used to fund initiatives such as mental health first aid, as well as research projects looking to further our understanding of mental health issues and the barriers to accessing support services.

Your support may also go towards providing Mental Health Nursing Scholarships, helping to ensure that the NHS is equipped to deal with the increased demand for mental healthcare as we start to become more comfortable in including discussions of mental health when we talk about our health and wellbeing in our communities.

If I hit my target, 10 people will be able to receive mental health first aid training or we'll be able to support a Mental Health Nursing Scholar - please donate anything you can to help me make this happen! :)

Want to join me on the walk? Sign up here.