Walking the walk to change perceptions
Forty take part in event at Strathaven Park
Last weekend saw people in Strathaven come together to tackle the stigma surrounding mental health as part of the ‘Walk-a-mile’ scheme.
The walk around Strathaven Park was organised in order to bring people together on World Suicide Prevention Day with around 40 people walking the route.
The events are inspired by Chris Young’s coastal walks, after he travelled around with no money, taking only a backpack and a tent, to change the way people think about mental health.
While on the walk Chris told the News that he spoke to hundreds of people about mental health, staying with people he just met across the Borders region, as he succeeded in changing people’s attitudes and perceptions.
Chris has organised walks across the country with thousands taking part to date.
He spoke of the positives from taking part in the walks: “You hear about stigma and prejudice, but I found when I’m face to face with someone in a neutral setting, and I say I have a mental health problem, people are fabulous.”
Eleanor Ogilvie, See Me community manager, hoped that the latest walk would help people in Strathaven: “Mental health affects all of us, but there is still a stigma around it.
“To tackle this properly people need to understand that it is okay not to be okay.
“One of the best ways to change how people think and behave is to make mental health a topic in day-to-day conversation, rather than a taboo subject people don’t want to talk about.”
To find our more about the walks visit letswalkamile.org.