The traditional Scottish event has been running in Clayton for many years and organiser Andy Waterman said Clayton Burns Society had decided to raise money for Mind in Bradford after he lost a close friend to suicide four years ago.

He stressed the importance of organisations which help those in emotional or mental distress, and encouraged people to talk and to seek help if they were struggling.

Pictured are (from left) volunteer Gerald Ashfield, Mind in Bradford chief executive Helen Davey, and event organiser Andy Waterman.

Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 15th February 2019

Ryan Anderton has used cycling as his well-being tool. He says this: 

At the age of 30, I was first admitted to a mental health hospital ward after attempting suicide in a B&B in Blackpool.

I call it my ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ moment after the film when Nicolas Cage decides to go there to drink himself to death.

Eight years on, I have used the power of cycling to launch my own mental health campaign, Recycle Yourself. And I am training for a 4.802-mile ride around the entire coast of Britain to raise money for mental health charity Mind.

Cycling works for me and I know I’m now pushing it to the extreme but ultimately my best advice to anyone with a mental health issue is that medication is only one course of treatment – there is so much that you can do yourself to improve your mindfulness, well-being and ways of coping. Many of these ‘tools’ I have developed thanks to the mental health voluntary sector.

A solution is out there, you might need to seek it out a bit more in the short term but help is available.

I accidentally stumbled upon a men’s mental health and suicide prevention group Andy’s Man Club one Monday night in January 2017 in Hebden Bridge. 

Things then started to make sense. 

I adopted the club’s #itsokaytotalk motto, spoke openly and listened to other men with similar issues and realised I wasn’t alone and that many men were and are suffering in the same way.

Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 6th February 2019

This client attended the Maastricht therapy sessions: 

My experience with Mind in Bradford has been life changing. Mind in Bradford supported me in a difficult period, helped to save my life and my Mental Health (MH) improved. I arrived at Mind in Bradford with a few issues. I was high risk. I tried to end my life, I heard really distressing negative voice and suffered from delusions. I couldn’t cope with the negative voice. I was extremely fearful.  If I didn’t have Mind in Bradford’s support, I do honestly believe I would not be here. I would have definitely contemplated to end my life successfully. 

Mind equipped me with knowledge, the right toolset to understand my negative voice, a one-to-one service and support catered to my individual needs. I was eased into this process. I started with baby steps. 

Now I’m working full time and I have no desire to end my life. I feel if a distressing situation arises I know where to go and what to do. As a service user the stigma of mental health and disclosing my experiences were extremely hard. MH differs for each individual and what one may see is not necessary what happens behind closed doors…

… I was fearful of something I didn’t understand. I was vulnerable, confused and needed support.  So for me Mind in Bradford is essential support, a haven for service users. It’s really helpful. It’s a service which offers quick, fast and helpful support. 

Thank you for your support. You really helped me.

Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 5th February 2019

Many thanks to our client who attended the Men’s Mindfulness sessions for sharing this:                                                                                                           

I have suffered with a series of mental health issues for a long time now – anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts. I’ve never had a forum where I felt I could address and confront any of these issues – even with close friends, it’s a difficult topic to discuss. It’s always been ‘easier’ to bury whatever these thoughts were, only for the same issues to rear their ugly head at a later date. 

As a result, it’s easier to become overwhelmed with all these anxious thoughts. Mindfulness has allowed me to process the anxious thoughts and digest them one at a time. It’s helped me in my personal life as well as professional. My productivity in general life has been 10 times better than it was. My general mood and overall wellbeing is much more positive and empathetic towards others. It has somehow motivated me to be a better person and member of society. All from 60 minutes on a Thursday. 

I am genuinely a different person to who I was 7 weeks ago, and it might sound exaggerated and over the top; I can only recommend you experience it for yourself. 

Peter has created a safe space, a trusted environment, and an amazing mindfulness experience which has helped me begin to confront all the mental health issues in my life. To say I’m cured would simply be a lie, but I have made more progress with my mental health over the last 6 weeks than I have over the last 6 years. Thanks to Peter and the mindfulness class he hosts on a Thursday night – long may it continue.

Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 4th February 2019

Being part of the panto has been great for the well-being of many of the group.

Big thanks to them for their fab work.

Here’s a link to the story in the Ilkley Gazette 

Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 1st February 2019

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Author: Nattie Haden
Posted on: 25th January 2019