Mikey’s Line/ Serenity Triathlon

I am competing in my first ever triathlon in August in Aviemore, to raise money for two incredible local services which are very close to my heart. Please give generously! The work these services provide is hugely valued, helps to break down mental health stigma and potentially saves lives. Mikey’s Line- “Mikeysline was born out of tragedy and aims to support young people feeling alone and abandoned by the system, unable to reach out for help and reassurance, unable to express their feelings. Depression, alcohol, drugs and bullying are all taking their toll, with a lot of people unable to see an alternative way out from under the weight and the resulting self harming & suicide. The hope is that Mikeysline will provide a contact point for the lonely, an ear for the desperate and some direction for those without hope. By using a TEXTLINE as opposed to a phone call gives both parties total anonymity and avoids the sometimes embarrassment of unloading yourself in a conversation with a total stranger.” Serenity Project- “A group which brings people affected by Borderline Personality Disorder out of social isolation and for them to gain confidence in a group setting. Serenity came about due to the high number of suicides in the Inverness area over a number of weeks. We attended a local residents meeting at Merkinch Community Centre where the subject of suicide arose. We both have a diagnosis of BPD and decided to set up Solace: a drop in peer support group, on a six week pilot scheme. We found that the group worked really well given it was a professional free zone and people gained support from hearing and sharing experiences with those who understood and felt the same. Attendance was high, resulting in us requiring a bigger room to accomodate our members. Now called Serenity the group has been established for well over a year and has between 4 to 10 members per week. We have both had the opporutinty to attend working with groups training and have also completed the Scottish Mental Health and First Aid course. A lot of the advice we give is however based on personal experiences.”