Written by Ashlea Mawby, Communcations Officer & Toads on Roads Coordiator
As far back as I can remember, I’ve always been what people call “highly strung.” It wasn’t until I reached adulthood that I began to understand this constant tension for what it really was, anxiety. For me, it came bundled with depression and OCD (which, for those who don’t know, is also an anxiety disorder).
I want to be clear: this isn’t anyone’s fault. It didn’t happen because of one particular event. It has simply always been there.
Mental health exists on a spectrum, just like anything else related to the brain. Because I come across as a “high functioning” person, people often don’t recognise that I struggle with mental health issues. But this doesn’t mean the suffering is any less real or valid than someone who physically can’t get out of bed in the morning. Ill mental health can present in so many different ways.
Seeking help, whether through medication, therapy, or both, isn’t a sign of failure. In fact, it takes tremendous strength and courage to acknowledge you need support and to take that first step into your healing journey.
Over the years, I’ve encountered some ignorant questions, but one in particular has stuck with me: “What do you have to be depressed about?” That question reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of how depression works.
Here’s the truth: mental illness doesn’t discriminate. You can be rich, successful, surrounded by friends, and still feel crushed under the weight of it. Your background, gender, race, or religion doesn’t matter; it can affect anyone.
I’ve come to realize that even on my hardest days, stepping outside makes a real difference.
Whether I’m planting something new in the garden, checking in on my pond, or just pausing to watch the birds and insects go about their day, it helps me slow down, breathe, and feel a little more grounded.
There’s something incredibly soothing about being in nature. It’s like a quiet reminder that it’s okay to take things one moment at a time. More and more, research is backing this up, showing just how powerful nature can be in supporting our mental well-being. But for me, it’s not just science, it’s something I feel deeply every time I reconnect with the world outside.
If I could leave you with just one message, it would be this: please be kind. Mental health issues are real and often invisible. Your small gestures- making someone a coffee, checking in with a text, listening without judgment- can make a world of difference.
Each year, Mental Health Awareness Week reminds us to check in with ourselves and each other. It’s a time to break the silence, challenge the stigma, and foster open conversations.
Whether you’re navigating anxiety, supporting someone with depression, or simply learning to cope with life’s stressors, this week is an opportunity to reflect, connect, and grow.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. By sharing our stories and showing compassion, we can help build a society where no one feels like they have to hide their struggles.
Let’s use this week to listen, learn, and support each other.
Because mental health matters—every single day.
Ash x
Mental Health at Froglife
At Froglife 40% of our staff are living with a long term mental or physical health condition. This week we are thinking about mental health in particular and how best we can support all our staff and volunteers.
We developed our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy several years ago. It structures our approach and we make improvements to this year on year. This year, a useful improvement was to include a specific question on wellbeing in our supervision forms, to open the discussion and provide an accessible opportunity for staff to discuss wellbeing issues with their manager, if they would like to.
We have found the responses very valuable and now managers can adjust workplans to support staff wellbeing more easily. We have also improved our induction processes so that new staff have an opportunity to discuss working styles with their manager, to establish healthy working patterns from the start.
We recognize the value of regularly being in nature and face-to-face contact with other staff members in a world that is becoming increasingly online. We are looking forward to our Staff Away Day in June, outdoors and close to nature, thanks to Nene Park in Peterborough.