walk a mile aberdeen

Today I hosted my first (hopefully more to come) event to help end mental health discrimination and encourage others to speak out to one another. (Walk A Mile Aberdeen)

• 

There has been a lot of preparation and time gone into this event since I first filled out the registration form on the 3rd of April 2019. 

As someone who struggles with anxiety daily, I would usually struggle to even attend these kind of public events. So organising and hosting one was a massive deal for me but I feel it has been a step in the right direction. I feel like over the last month alone my confidence has grown so much. I think back to doing my STV interview back in 2016 and how visibly nervous I was and how much this contrasts with my interview last week for That’s TV. As much as I’ve still felt really anxious and nervous about the event and interviews, I’ve taught myself to appear more confident which in turn is making me feel more confident. 

The days leading up to today I wished I’d never organised this event; I was so scared of no one turning up or it just being a massive flop and being pointless. But whenever these thoughts came into my head, I just reminded myself that the cause was too important to let my own anxieties overpower it. 

My mental health has seen great improvements since I started being open about it, so I am determined to make others feel as though they can be open as well, and we can stop discriminating, stereotyping and labelling. 

• 

So I want to thank everyone so much who came along today as well as everyone who tried to attend, and shared the event as getting the word out can be difficult. A special thanks to Kirsten Robertson from the Press and Journal https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/aberdeen/1743966/teenager-on-walk-to-end-mental-health-stigma/ as well as Caiti Beattie from That’s TV for helping me to get the word out about Walk A Mile Aberdeen and my marathon in a month for Mental Health Aberdeen. Also a thank you to my Mum for calming my nerves about the event as she always does and making sure this could happen. 

This event did exactly what I hoped; it brought together people of all ages from all different backgrounds and professions and showed a sign of unity and strength among numbers. 

• 

• 

It would definitely be fair to say that the weather was not on our side today but it’s Aberdeen, we knew it was a STRONG possibility and we didn’t melt! But it’s even more appreciated that people came out to walk today in these conditions as I totally understand it was not the best day for it! 

See Me Scotland also have the pass the badge campaign. You can go to https://passthebadge.co.uk and upload a picture of anything and the badge will be inserted onto it (as shown in my example in the third picture). You can then post this to show your support on any social media, or even just share the badge on it’s own. It’s all about creating a safe space free of judgement in regards to mental health issues and discrimination.

• 

• 

• 

I can’t wait for more of the events in my head to come to life to stop the stigma. For now, it would be very appreciated if you have even a fiver to spare to donate to my “marathon in a month” to raise the vital funds for Mental Health Aberdeen who have helped myself and so many other young people in the city. 

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/caitlin-tawse-mha-acis

And another reminder to anyone who may need it; my inbox is open. My email is caitlintawse@gmail.com or you can contact me on social media, I take myself for a great listener.