Rachel Luby

World Mental Health Day 2025

Friday 10th Oct

World Mental Health Day takes place every year on 10 October. It’s a day for raising awareness, encouraging open conversations, and promoting actions that support mental well-being for everyone.

 

As a mental health nurse working in a crisis response service, as a mental health patient, I see daily how for people with mental illness the battle is not only with their own minds, but discrimination, lack of access to necessary care, isolation and exclusion from the community and too often from services. These things are far bigger than what we can ever hope to achieve on 10^th October annually.

 

We need to keep those conversations going, we need to hold hope for each other, we need to try and create a world that is accessible by all. We need to make every day a WMHD. When we are strong enough, we need to be able to tell our stories, to feel part of change.

 

There are so many ways that we can make a difference, and without a doubt, for me sharing my lived experience and having conversations about mental health is part of my own recovery and regaining a sense of purpose. That said, I am going one step further by challenging myself to wear my diamante face, flashing shoe laces and butterly wings on my commute from Essex to London and back again tomorrow. All being well, I will be finishing the 20km walk around about now.

 

So far we have raised over £300 and are in the top 50 contributors! Just £20 short of my new £350 target!! Thank you all for being part of my journey.

 

And remember

My story isn’t over yet ;

Your story isn’t over yet ;

Our story isn’t over yet ;

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The Butterfly Effect

Saturday 20th Sep I use my clothes to boost my confidence, a disguise, a deflection of attention, a way to hide what's really going on. It felt right that I would go one step (excuse the pun) further for my charity walk. Why purple butterfly wings? I know I will spend a large part of the walk thinking of those who died due to their mental health, and purple is a symbol of suicide prevention. I am doing the walk alone, so whilst my wings may be a conversation starter, I will spend the majority reflecting; on my journey but also those who we have lost. Butterfly wings are also to honour all those who notice one land and wonder if it was a sign, if their loved was near; those bereaved through suicide, but also those whose lives were impacted by mental illness and died too soon. Butterflies represent hope and transformation. Hope is something I have lost many times. Finally we have the reality, a butterfly can not repair its own wings. In order to pick myself up again and again I have had to rely on others. To stay 'stable' I rely on others even more. Mental Health UK have supported over 1 million people to get back on their feet again. (Another unintentional pun). It's a privilege to take this walk. I've been trying to up my strength and fitness as it will be the biggest personal challenge so far; but my story isn't over yet ; for that, for today, I am grateful. Just for today, I recognise that I have reasons to be. Tomorrow is never guaranteed. NEVER GIVE UP 💚💜💛 Share

Walking for better mental health

Monday 8th Sep

Mental Health UK help deliver local and national services,  that promote recovery, empowerment and knowledge. The organisation is made up of MindWise (Northern Ireland, Adfeeiad (Wales), SAMH (Scotland and Rethink Mental Illness (England). They support both young people and adults.

Person centred,  Mental Health UK offer services to all those whose lives have been affected by mental illness. They deliver a biopsychosocial approach, recognising the social determinants of health; money problems, loneliness and isolation, employment. . .

 I did not imagine I would be doing a 20 km walk - I managed 10 km for Mind and thought that was that. However I came across Glow Walk soon after discharge from my last admission and am choosing/challenging myself to push onwards and upwards; something that each of us aspire to. It's also ironic that many of those who have similar experiences to me will find 'going for a walk' a crisis team favourite; and I love irony. . . 

Unfortunately from my teenage years, a lot of my life and my mental health has been more accurately, backwards and downwards. Diagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar Affective Disorder and Personality Disorder, there have been many extremes. The last few years have been especially challenging and if I was a cat those 9 lives would have run out, again and again and again.

Somehow, I am still here. Charities as well as Secondary Services have helped hold my hope when I had none. 

Today, just for today, I have made a conscious decision to try and live life, to try and do things that make me proud; that offer me hope in spite of my symptoms. 

If you are able to sponsor me, great, if you are unable to, that is great to. 

And remember, sometimes we take 1 step back in order to take two steps forward. Just keep going. Whatever you do, just keep going.

NEVER GIVE UP 

;

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