We’re one of the sponsors of TEDxExeter and after seeing Gill Hayes’ powerful talk in 2017, our HR Manager Emily Ottery asked Gill to visit the firm’s three offices in Devon and Cornwall to talk about her experiences. You can watch her TedxExeter talk here.
Gill was living in Exeter when she began suffering from severe depression. She attempted suicide in March 2013 and following a long physical and mental recovery process, is passionate about sharing her story to help others who are struggling with mental ill health.
The recently released 2018 UK suicide statistics show an overall 11.8% increase on the previous year. In the under 25 age range, this increase leaps to 23.7%. It doesn’t have to be this way. We all need to play our part in reversing this trend.
Gill has been encouraging people to chalk about mental health for mental health awareness day 2019.
“As a suicide survivor myself, I know what it feels like to be in a place of absolute despair. I also know how stigma compounds the isolation, the shame and the suffering. The messages of hope and support I received on my own journey were vital to my recovery.”
By chalking messages of understanding and support, we can encourage those who are suffering in silence to ask for help, and take the first step towards recovery. Through our messages, we could actually nudge someone away from a trajectory towards suicide-we might even save a life.
The event took place across Exeter and beyond with people coming together to show their support for those facing the challenges of mental health.
Gill has also convinced local businesses to strip off for a calendar which will raise some much needed funds.
“Let’s Chalk About Mental Health was a phenomenal success in terms of reaching it’s objectives of challenging stigma and encouraging wider conversations but the calendar is a way to raise funds so that we can continue the hard work and provide something more tangible for those suffering from metal health.”
You can find out more about Gill and the work she does to support mental health on her website. https://www.gillhayes.co.uk/