Women in sport with Katie Catherall

Embracing nature as the theme of this years Mental Health Awareness Week, Katie speaks to intrepid explorer Heidi Flack.

The struggles regarding mental health have been a priority for so many over the last year, especially with regular lockdowns and restrictions keeping us apart from the people we love.

But with the increased conversation around dealing with mental wellbeing, now more than ever we are realising just how strong the benefits of regular activity can be in improving how we feel.

This decrease in mental state is something Heidi Flack has experienced herself and is now fighting with everything she has in order to better the lives of others. Upon moving to Uppermill in January 2020, she suddenly found herself a fair distance away from her family and friends.

Time away from the people she loved most was difficult enough for Heidi, but when the first lockdown hit in March, she began to see herself falling even further, saying she ‘had never felt so alone and isolated’ in her life.

Knowing she had to find a way to combat the way she was feeling, Heidi relied on the ‘power of social media’ to connect her to like-minded people who understood what she was going through.

‘I met Darren Thomas who had launched a campaign to encourage people to open up about their mental health while sharing their struggles’ she says.

Picking herself back up with the help of Darren as well as mental health charity, Mind, Heidi decided she wanted to set herself a challenge to prove just how far she had come. After they had helped her so much in her recovery, she chose to raise funds for Tameside, Oldham and Glossop Mind by completing 2280 miles on the virtual Route 66 towards the end of last year.

‘I started using social media to spread the word while raising money and I have now met some amazing people along the way.

I am now an ambassador for Mental Health Football in Oldham and even though I’m not into football, I’m a great advocate for what they are doing. Playing football while having the chance to talk has helped so many people’ she says.

Heidi now takes herself on walks or hikes everyday as well as attending the gym most days and had found that her healthy diet is crucial in the upkeep of her physical and mental wellbeing.

‘I decided to get myself a trainer and it completely changed my life. With a high protein and low-fat diet, eating healthy, fresh food helps me to prepare for exercise while keeping me strong’ she says.

Heidi is also a Master Scuba Diver and is itching to return to the water when she can.

‘I haven’t been able to go diving but mountain climbing reminds me very much of the sport. All you can hear is your breathing and I have found both scuba diving and mountain climbing to be great ways of connecting with nature’.

She has also found a passion for paddle boarding and is looking to take up wild swimming when this becomes possible, as she is actively looking for a new challenge to embark on.

Heidi says physical exercise and walking in the beautiful hills has ‘changed’ her as a person.

‘I am no longer afraid to be alone and I now walk miles, allowing myself time to look around and connect with nature.

‘I know now that I will always want to be outside, it is part of who I am and if I can help others along the way, even if that’s preventing one death to suicide, then that is good enough for me’ she says.

Heidi is still raising as much as possible for Mind Tameside, Oldham and Glossop and if you’d like to donate you can do so by visiting her JustGiving page:

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/heidi-thompson3