My personal experience with mental health issues has led me to become very passionate about mental health support and ensuring people can get the help they need. My sister suffered from postnatal depression and unfortunately took her own life. I felt she was unable to access the support she needed and therefore it is important to me that people not only know that they deserve support but that this support is accessible.
I am able to bring my experience of local government to the role of trustee. I have almost 20 years’ experience as an elected councillor with Worthing Borough Council and 12 years as a county councillor.
Additionally, I have extensive lived experience with mental illness. In addition to my sister, her son also took his own life, and my other sister is in residential care due to injuries sustained from her struggles with mental illness. I can therefore bring this experience and my strategic skills to the role of trustee with West Sussex Mind.
I have a particular passion for our anti-stigma work. We all have mental health and we not only need to know how to look after it, but also need to know where we can get help and support from. I am also passionate about our fundraising and communications work. Fundraising not only allows us to do what we do, but it also allows us to communicate that West Sussex Mind is here for people who need support.