One of our core values at Freetrain is standing up for what we believe in. We think Mental health issues are not talked about enough and we would like to do our best to change that. With this disease effecting so many people we cannot stand buy and not offer our voice, support and guidance to those who need it.

This is why we are teaming up with “CALM” (campaign against living miserably)

Shockingly 125 lives are lost each week due to suicide, this has to change. We want to help raise awareness about how people can identify the problem & take action on making positive changes that can improve mental health.

In collaboration with CALM and the SRC, we are going to be holding a series of runs aimed at bringing people together to make change. One thing we know for certain, going for a run in the fresh air with likeminded people can have an incredible effect on your mindset. For every person that attends these runs Freetrain will be donating £1 to CALM to help them continue in changing and saving lives.

We will also be showcasing on our social media, real life takeaways from individuals who have suffered with mental health issues and how they have overcome their problems to get to a place where they can spread knowledge and offer action points on how to overcome problems faced with the illness. We hope this can help and inspire people to know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and that you are not in this alone.

Here are some of the lessons learnt from individuals who have won the battle against mental health :

1. Get out and meet people.

Have real life connections with people. Give yourself the opportunity to laugh, feel and create real connection by meeting people.

2. Get active

Being active is as good for the brain as it is for the body. Regular exercise or activity can have a major impact on your mental and emotional health, relieve stress and help you sleep better.

3. Talk to someone

Know that there are people out there who care and will listen. Whether its family, friends, the run club or the help line at CALM, there is always someone to listen and help.

4. Eat a diet that makes you feel good

Foods that can support your mood include fatty fish rich in omega-3s, nuts, avocados, leafy greens and fresh fruit. Stay away from processed and junk food, they feel great to start with but have no nutrients that will improve your mood

5. Don’t underestimate sleep

It matters more than you think. One way to get sleep better is to take a break from the stimulation of screens TV, phones or computers 2 hours before you go to sleep. Try it? What’s the worst that can happen

This is just the start of our partnership with CALM, this is a topic we feel passionately about and will continue to help in any way we can. We hope that you can join us in spreading this message. There are some ways you can help, even if this doesn’t affect you directly it maybe something that someone you know is suffering with :

• Interact with this topic on social media #UnitedAgainstSuicide
• Share this blog post
• Donate to CALM https://gofund.me/fe1e7305

We hope this has helped someone out there. We Freetrain support our community and we believe people matter.

To find out more about CALM head to www.thecalmzone.net

CALM support line is 0800 58 58 58 and is available 365 days a year 5pm – midnight

Written By Alex Shaw