Mental health support group Reach to Speak Out helping hundreds

Amiee Kujawa's vision was to provide a safe space on Facebook where members could share experiences and ask questions about mental health.

Now, people from as far as the United States, Canada, South Africa and Australia have all joined Reach to Speak Out – benefitting from free online courses to improve mental wellbeing.

And even a new clothing range to help tackle the stigma associated with mental health is in the pipeline.

Amiee told the Guardian: "I don't know how it has all happened but it has. So much has gone on – it has just boomed.

"For anyone who is struggling with mental health – you are not alone.

Amiee Kujawa only launched Reach to Speak Out last December

"The group is a non-exposure group, it's a safe space to access support and it is private – we have six admins who make sure things are in order.

"Members all bring their own life experiences to the group, there is so much to it and it is not just about mental health, we are bringing fun to it as well."

Reach to Speak Out has teamed up with Helping Hands and hypnotherapist Bex Arnold to offer a range of workshops four days a week.

They range from holistic therapy such as tapping to emergency planning for avoiding a mental health crisis – as well as yogic breathing with Emma Shackleton and poetry with Dan Pender.

There are opportunities for members to vote on the subjects they wish to discuss and share their own stories – while the platform can also be used for people to publicise their services to help others with mental health.

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On Saturdays, there are events and quizzes, as well as signposting to online radio providing mental health support as well as music to raise spirits.

Amiee previously worked as a prison officer and a social prescriber, and she has faced her own mental health struggles for 20 years, having only been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder six years ago.

She added: "I walked away from work because I was struggling, there was not enough support.

"Heading into 2021 I thought 'what on earth am I going to do?' – but this is the best thing I have ever done.

"I just hope it can continue to grow. Anybody that could come on board to mentor me I would welcome with open arms – this is now my unpaid full time job."

Amiee is working with the New Leaf and Upturn organisations to help make Reach to Speak Out a viable social enterprise, and she hopes in future it could help to provide employment opportunities.

The SOS branding will be used on clothes to stamp out the stigma attached to mental health

She is also working on a clothing line under the name SOS – which means 'stamp out stigma' as well as 'save our souls' – in a further drive to get people talking about mental health.

Find the Reach to Speak Out group on Facebook.