Alone With Ghosts

Apart from the Old Police Cells Museum itself, a unique and valuable cultural resource to the city, which kindly provides the all-important venue for this project, it was Mind in Brighton & Hove that immediately occurred to me as a beneficiary for this challenge.

Despite appearances, we have a very great number of taboos in our society and, unfortunately, mental health is there among them. Personally I find this ridiculous, because I bet that everyone I know has either been affected by mental health issues themselves or knows someone who has.

Mind in Brighton and Hove. Registered Charity No. 1071434.

Our model of health in general tends to be based on finding pills to fix the things that are wrong with us. Mental health issues don’t always fit tidily into this model. Giving someone a pill may help them feel or behave better, but this doesn’t fix the underlying causes of mental disease – regardless of whether we’re on the ‘social’ or ‘genetic’ side of the ongoing argument as to its cause.

Mental illness is a hidden disability. People can’t tell from appearances that you’re unwell, and so they may react with misunderstanding or hostility once the symptoms become apparent. The effects of mental illness often extend far beyond the symptoms, and as a consequence people with mental health issues often find themselves having difficulty in their relationships, or with the legal and benefits systems, at a time when they’re least able to help themselves. The work of Mind in Brighton & Hove, which supports and provides advocacy, becomes a crucial resource in these situations.

My partner was helped enormously by a Mind in Brighton & Hove project and we’re both still grateful for the brilliant support she received, so I’m keen to raise as much cash as possible if this can help Mind continue its vital work in the city.

I hope you’ll sponsor me in this event, which aims to provide useful funds to two very different but equally excellent causes. And don’t forget the video that I hope will result from it! The footage of me looking pathetically terrified should be worth the price of sponsorship alone…