Why?
One in four people across the world will be affected by mental illness at some point in their lives. Research carried out by Mind, the mental health charity, showed that work is the most stressful factor in people’s lives, more so than either financial or health problems.
That’s the bad news.
The good news is that the mental health crusade is slowly gathering momentum. The Simmonds family, our good friends and colleagues want to play our small part. We have much to share, based on our own lived experiences, both as sufferers and as carers. In the workplace and at home.
Mark Simmonds
I am a 57-year-old businessman, married to Mel, with three great children – Will, Emily and Jack. My job is a management trainer in the area of creativity and innovation, and I work with some of the biggest companies in the world. Together with Mel, we run a small agency called GENIUS YOU.
Twenty years ago, things were not quite as rosy when I suffered the ‘mother of all breakdowns’ as a result of pressure in the workplace. Stress and anxiety have never been too far away from my side! In 2019, I published a book about my experiences of mental health, called Breakdown and Repair.
My personal mission and passion is to help others not just survive but also thrive through times of stress. This is my ‘side hustle’.
Emily Simmonds
Emily is 24 years old and is currently working as an Assistant Producer on ITV’s This Morning. She is living in London and loving life!
In 2014, she weighed about 5 stone and had a tube inserted in her nose. This was giving her the nutrients she needed to stay alive in her battle against anorexia nervosa, the most lethal of all mental illnesses.
Emily is a mental health ambassador at ITV and talks both openly and honestly about her battles with anorexia.
She is walking proof that mental illness can have a happy ending!
Jack Simmonds
Jack is the entrepreneur in the family, having decided to forgo the conventional route of university and the corporate ladder.
He is focusing in the area of social media and digital marketing, ensuring that the Mental Health Mark message gets out to the wider world. Jack has made some excellent contributions on our YouTube channel.
He is also teaching his dinosaur parents to embrace all things digital!
Will Simmonds
Will is 26 years old, working at KPMG, and is currently slaving away diligently to pass his accountancy exams.
Like Mel, he has shown no signs of being burdened with the mental health “tricky genes”. One of Will’s most positive characteristics is his even temper and his unflappability.
Just the sort of person you want to have by your side when the going gets tough.
Mel Simmonds
Mel is my wonderful wife whom I have been married to for the last 28 years.
She has never had first-hand experience of the dark side of mental ill health, but she has had very close exposure to it. Firstly, when she looked after me during my stress-related Big Blip back in 2001. And secondly, when she and I cared for our daughter, Emily, in her fight against anorexia. She really understands what it feels like to care for somebody suffering from mental ill health.
Mel is also my business partner! Lucky her?!
Lucy Streule
We were very fortunate to have secured the services of the very talented Lucy Streule, a graphic designer who has been responsible for the wonderful illustrations across all our communication channels.
The mental health topic is a very serious one, but Lucy has managed to ensure that the messages, when delivered through her drawings, bring a much welcome smile to people’s faces.
The Book Publicist
The mission of The Book Publicist is “Sharing Brilliant Books With Big Audiences”. Matt, Natalie and the rest of the team have been instrumental in helping us establish ourselves as credible voices in the mental health crusade.
A very talented group of people and lovely to work with too!
Trigger
I was extremely lucky to be given the opportunity to write ‘Breakdown and Repair’, published by Trigger, the global publishing house who focus purely in the area of mental health and wellbeing.
Alongside all the other inspiring authors with their own stories to tell, they continue to support us in our efforts to spread the mental health word across the world.