In October 2018, in order to mark World Mental Health Day, Tooting resident Sarah Servante will be hiking Mount Toubkal in Morocco, to raise awareness and help fund 100 expedition leaders through Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.

Mt Toubkal is the highest mountain in North Africa, standing at 13,671 ft – which is higher than the cruising altitude of light aircraft – and she’s never done anything like this before!

Sarah says: “Mental Health First Aid encourages people to recognise that everyone has both physical and mental health. MHFA England is a not for profit that trains people to be able to keep others, and themselves, safe in the event of a mental health crisis. Alongside this, we encourage and give people skills to start more open and meaningful conversations, as well as support with what to do when someone doesn't just respond with 'I'm fine'. We don't train people to be psychologists or therapists, just like a physical first aid course wouldn't teach you how to be a doctor or paramedic, but we do help them know how to get someone more support if they recognise that its needed.”

The organisation runs courses for adults, young people, those in higher education and the Armed Forces community across the country, and is tasked with training one teacher in every state secondary school in England by 2020.

The expedition team, made up of Mental Health First Aiders and people with mental health experience, are fundraising £25,000, which will be used to train over 100 expedition leaders in Mental Health First Aid. Expedition leaders have to have physical first aid in case of accidents, but aren't required to be able to keep people safe in the event of anxiety, psychosis or a panic attack (all of which are more common than you'd think at high altitude). This trek aims to start to change that, so that they can keep the groups they lead safe.

To follow Sarah’s training progress, please see her blog here.

You can sponsor Sarah (or the team) here. Find out more about MHFA England courses here.

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