A St Albans student who fell into depression and alcoholism as a teenager has created an event to help others in the same situation.
Matt Mallinson, now 25, who studies psychology at the University of Bedfordshire, formed ‘Different Minds’ with four other students. They are spending their summer holidays organising an event at the university to help people with mental health issues.
The event will feature speakers, singers and comedians who have faced mental health issues, and local organisations to talk about how to get help.
Matt said: “When I first realised I had mental health issues, I even stigmatised myself. I thought I was ‘crazy’.
“I feel if I’d known more about what mental health really is and that it’s something we all need to look after in ourselves, then I might have coped with it better. I wish I had something like ‘Toast’ early on in my troubles.”
The event will be held from 12pm to 5pm on Friday, August 11, at the University of Bedfordshire’s Luton campus. Admission is free.
To donate to support Different Minds, go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/differentminds
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