Due to the lack of counselling on the NHS you should seek out other treatments ,here are five benefits on the importance of group therapy.

You can learn from others who have similar struggles.

I learnt about others and their struggles with similar symptoms. Although no struggles are the same its comforting to hear that you aren’t alone and others are going through or have been through similar situations. This helps with learning different coping mechanisms from others in the group.

Groups cost less than individual therapy

For those of you on disability benefits individual counselling can prove to be too costly with therapists in the UK charging anything in excess of £15 per hour. Group therapy can be either free or much cheaper than individual. I went to the Bipolar UK support group which is free and you pay a small donation if you wish, to the charity.

Can help you socialise

When I went to group therapy I never socialised with anyone outside of my family. Going to group therapy helped me to socialise which is an important skill as well as being good for your mental health. I never trusted anyone and to some extent still don’t but the group were both helpful and discreet and they have strict rules on interacting outside the group. This is helpful because you don’t get to take on everyone else’s mental health as well as your own. You go to the group, get good advice then go home.

You can learn different coping mechanisms

Even though you can get coping mechanisms off individual counsellors, group therapy allows you to gain different coping mechanisms off group members who are going through or have been through what you are going through.

Groups provide confidentiality

You can feel safe knowing that everything you share with the group stays confidential so you don’t have to worry about gossips. You can let it all out knowing that what goes on in the group stays within the group. You don’t even need to say anything unless you feel ready to.

Valued Lives has set up a crowdfunding campaign to help raise money for mental health.

The CEO of Valued Lives sent me an email about Crowdfunding for a community health hub and an emergency crisis response unit in Cornwall.

The Cornish charity is a new non-profit organisation, who supports people who have mental ill-health to lead fulfilling lives in the community.

I’m backing this idea because currently there is no help available in Cornwall unless you have money.

I’ve been pushed from pillar to post between Outlook Southwest and the Mental Health team, who have lost my notes and have not contacted me since I had an assessment in May.

I’ve lost faith in the NHS mental health services and with Cornwall having the third-highest suicide rates in the country help should be available.

Celebrities and the Royals love to talk, but how many hubs in the UK have they opened and funded with their own money?

This is the reason why Valued Lives has turned to crowdfunding for support.

Shoni Haswell CEO of Valued Lives said: “We will be able to respond to people out of hours, at their home or our crisis cafe.

We will reduce hospitalisations, and promote a quicker and fuller recovery.

We will also support those close to the person to learn how better to support them, and understand how mental health affects their loved one.”

The purpose of the Crowdfunder is to enable Valued Lives to open a Hub in Redruth and begin offering services.

The charity will also need to purchase furniture and equipment and recruit their first full wellbeing team.

The Hub will provide an open door for information and advice, a crisis cafe that will provide emergency support, and will offer access to our wellbeing recovery programmes.

We have also placed a stretch fund on our target so that they can give a three month trial for a 24-hour face to face emergency crisis response service, which will cover the UK.

This service will respond quickly, tackling the need for people to go to A&E, or be placed into inpatient care, and reduce suicide rates across the county.

You can donate to the CrowdFunding campaign or visit their Facebook or Twitter pages.

The aim is to raise £25,000 in 25 days.

The campaign will finish at 1 pm on November 11th.

One in four people suffer from mental health, and the chances are that you will have a family member, colleague, friend, or associate with mental health even if they haven’t told you.

A Penzance man is helping people with mental health by offering coaching and counselling to others with issues.

Andrew Philips took up trail running to help with his depression and anxiety.

The builder took up coaching when a friend of his experienced mental health problems and he suggested a coached run to help break the depression and anxiety barriers.

When his friend started to make excellent progress, Andrew decided to use his expertise to help coach others.

The 33-year old runner suffers from anxiety and panic attacks until four years ago when he was introduced to three principles by Cognitive therapist Russell Davies who, Andrew says is an amazing three principals facilitator.

Andrew told heart.co.uk “There is no technique or mind training involved, or finding people’s triggers and trawling through your past.

“We just help to give people the understanding of how their mind works, and that everything you need is right there with-in yourself.

“We enable you to just live your life.”

A mother, Sarah Newing came to Andrew suffering from anxiety, depression and panic attacks.

Sarah said: “Meeting Andrew has helped me beyond words.”With his support and guidance, he’s shown me how to deal with my anxiety head and not let it control my life. “It’s been very life changing for me.”

He offers one to one coaching, group coaching sessions and running retreats and you don’t have to worry about this just being for super fit people because Andrew teaches people of all fitness levels.

There are different prices for different runs ranging from £80 for a 13 mile coached run around a Cornish coastline of your choice to £250 for a three night Cornish running retreat with a Friday to Monday stay which includes accommodation, breakfast and activities.

Besides running, Andrew also offers surf lessons, Yoga, meditation and beach barbeques.

If you are interested in getting fit or trying out something to help overcome depression and anxiety why not visit

www.ultramindcoaching.co.uk and give it a try!

Has exercise ever helped you or your loved ones overcome depression and anxiety?

Comment below or join in the discussions over on our social media channels.