In many ways, mental health is just like physical health: everybody has it and we need to take care of it.

Good mental health means being generally able to think, feel and react in the ways that you need and want to live your life. But if you go through a period of poor mental health you might find the ways you’re frequently thinking, feeling or reacting become difficult, or even impossible, to cope with. This can feel just as bad as a physical illness, or even worse.

Mental health problems affect around one in four people in any given year. They range from common problems, such as depression and anxiety, to rarer problems such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Experiencing a mental health problem is often upsetting, confusing and frightening – particularly at first. If you become unwell, you may feel that it’s a sign of weakness, or that you are ‘losing your mind’.

These fears are often reinforced by the negative (and often unrealistic) way that people experiencing mental health problems are shown on TV, in films and by the media, and contributes to a stigma of feeling that we can openly talk about our feelings.

This may stop you from talking about your problems, or seeking help. This, in turn, is likely to increase distress and the sense of isolation, and these feelings are causing the increasing issues related to Mental Health related events, such as suicide.

To try and break down the stigma of talking to each other, Ide Hill Football Club are arranging a “Walk and Talk” event, and we are inviting anyone who wants to join us for a round the clock walk, visiting the football clubs of the Sevenoaks District; the length and duration designed to represent the long and continuous struggle of those who live with Mental Health issues. We will stop at 13 grounds on the journey, the average number of daily suicides in the UK at present, one club per life lost.

Setting off at 1600 on Sunday 28th August from Westerham Football Club, the tour will continue on through the evening and night, visiting Chipstead FC, Swanley FC, Eynesford FC, Otford United FC, Kemsing United FC, Borough Green FC, Ightham FC, St Lawrence FC, Seal FC, Sevenoaks Town FC, Wilderpark FC and Weald Wolves FC before arriving at Ide Hill FC.

As well as awareness, we hope to raise money for SHOUT 85258, the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.

SHOUT launched publicly in May 2019 and they’ve had more than 1.4 million conversations with people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need in-the-moment support.
As a digital service, Shout has become increasingly critical since Covid-19, being one of the few mental health support services able to operate as normal at this time. With many, especially men, also feeling unable to talk, a faceless text conversation can sometimes feel easier for them.

Living with Mental Health issues can be relentless, tiring and at times, feel dark and treacherous. Nobody should have to undergo that journey alone so we hope you will support us.

 

To donate, go click this link Sponsor Walk and Talk event Sunday 28th August

or to donate £10, text IHFC to 70085 

(texts cost £10 plus your standard network access charge)