MOUNTAINS FOR THE MIND
“Hills can play a key role in our wellbeing”
Mountains for the Mind is Trail’s campaign to promote the benefits of being outside for better mental health. We believe in the power of mountains to change lives – and here’s just a small selection of the amazing things going on in our community this month.
Trail catches up with Ross Cunningham, the founder of the popular Mountains Mend Minds website and a passionate advocate for spending time outdoors to improve mental health.
“When I first started climbing Scotland’s highest mountains while going through a period of severe depression over four years ago now, I could never have imagined the journey it would take me on. I’ve now experienced some of the most incredible places in Scotland, most that I never knew existed until I travelled there to go Munro-bagging. Places like Torridon, Knoydart, Sutherland and Assynt are truly special and spectacular locations that I’m so grateful I’ve had the chance to see and explore.
“But my journey hasn’t just been about the number of summits I’ve ticked off. Hillwalking improved my mental health when it was at its lowest point, and in the last two years in particular I’ve tried to spread the message as widely as possible that the hills can play a key role in our wellbeing.
“I founded a website called Mountains Mend Minds to allow others to share their stories of how the outdoors has improved their mental wellbeing to inspire others. It’s also been a platform to share my own blogs, including one on overcoming my fear of heights or to share advice for people wanting to get into hillwalking for the first time.
“I’m now a member of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on mental health, which informs government policy; I’m a board member of a newlyestablished mental health charity in my native Fife; have written a number of media articles and featured in two BBC videos on mental health and the outdoors; and last year became the first
winner of the Online Media Walking Champion award at the inaugural National Scottish Walking Awards for my mental health work.
“Most recently I ran an apolitical campaign to ensure significant commitments on mental health and the outdoors were included in parties’ local manifestos ahead of this month’s Fife Council elections, and I’m currently working with the local authority to see hill paths improved in Fife.”
Visit the website: mountainsmendminds.com and follow Ross on Twitter: @RCunningham_MMM