Race to secure cash for mental health festival

ORGANISERS of Dundee’s first mental health festival are facing a race against time to secure funding.

Heart Tay Heart, a citywide event promoting recovery from mental illness, is due to launch in April. Organised by extreme marathon runner and campaigner Louise Johnstone, the festival will see people with li ved experience of mental illness visit schools, universities and employers to share their experiences.

Pop-up events are also planned, including preventative work to help mothers suffering from prenatal and post-natal depression.

A collection of masks showcasing designers’ interpretations of mental health will be displayed.

Although many businesses have already pledged t heir support, organisers are finding it difficult to secure funding to stage the event.

Louise is now calling on Dundonians to help salvage the festival. She said: “We really need to reach the community and get them behind it or it’s not going to work.

“Because I’m not a social enterprise and I’ m not doing this under a charity banner, I don’t quality for funding.

“We’ll run something no matter what, but we are under a tight timescale to make sure the mask exhibition happens.We all want to see change in Dundee and if everyone puts in £1 the potential is phenomenal.”

Tackling the stigma that remains attached to mental illness is the main driving fo rc e b e h i n d L o u i s e ’s efforts. She said:“Everyone has an important role in this and how we approach mental health. It’s important we show people they need to l ook after their minds as well as bodies.”

A crowdfunding page has been launched at justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ hearttayheart.