An accident & emergency staff member from QEQM Hospital has been using her limited time off to plunge into the icy sea at Viking Bay in a bid to raise funds for mental health support group Manspace.
Lenna Howells is an advanced clinical practitioner at A&E with a 25 year career of nursing in the department.
The 48-year-old, from Broadstairs, says through her job she has seen an ‘exponential’ rise in the number of people needing mental health support since the covid pandemic.
Lenna said: “Everyone has people in their lives who really could benefit from something like Manspace, I certainly have a couple of friends that I have lost through general life problems who might have benefitted.
“Although I am a woman and people might ask why I am helping something that is purely for men. I have been working in the emergency department for nearly 25 years and have seen a massive increase in young people and men at risk of suicide.
“Men are not as good as talking about what’s important to them, women are slightly better at that.
“I have seen an increase in both men and women with mental health issues, an exponential rise since covid. Financial issues are a huge concern. Most people work but many men still feel they should be the breadwinner and people still say boys shouldn’t cry.”
Lenna says she was aware of Manspace and knows David Wright who founded the group last year.
Dad-of-two David had experienced his own difficulties with mental health and alcohol and also lost friends and family to suicide.
He went through rehab 17 years ago and says addiction recovery sessions encouraged him to open up and talk about the issues in his life.
The Manspace group was created by David and friend Paul White to support wellbeing, foster community and reduce male suicide and violence.
The informal sessions have proved to be a great help to many and Manspace now has meetings in both Margate, where it began, and Ramsgate.
Lenna, who is not a regular swimmer, decided her fundraiser would consist of 13 days of sea swims at Viking Bay.
She said: “{For day 10 of the challenge} I did an 11 hour shift and then did a night time swim live {on facebook}. I’ll never make a TV presenter!
“I always wanted to do this and when I moved to Broadstairs from Birchington I was right on top of the sea, the world was conspiring to get me into the sea and I just thought ‘now’s the time if I am ever going to do it.’
“I thought I might raise £100 and I put an optimistic £500 on the fundraiser which I have now over-shot. I’m really pleased as I know it will go to a really good use and it feels great to be helping other people.”
Lenna’s finale swim will take place at Viking Bay on Sunday 22nd December at around 2:30pm, when Manspace members have pledged to turn out in speedos and mankinis!
Anyone who would like to pop down and cheer her on is welcome.
Find Lenna’s fundraising page by clicking here
Manspace
Meeting Mondays, 7pm, at the Margate Caves community Room or Thursdays, 7pm, Radford House Ramsgate. Check the facebook page for Christmas dates.
