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BBC News
11-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mental illness shouldn't define us, says Woodbridge runner
A marathon runner who said he refused to be defined by a mental illness he had as a child has been pounding the pavements as part of a 365-day Berry, 23, from Woodbridge, Suffolk, is running at least 7.46 miles (12km) every day in 2025 to raise money for Suffolk Mind – and he has just conquered his 100th running coach had anorexia for six years from the age of 11 and hoped his year-long, 2,721 mile (4380km) run would encourage more people to speak out about their mental health struggles."I am very lucky to still be here today and I do not take that for granted, but some people do still suffer in silence, so my goal is to get more men talking," he said. "I think we still don't talk about our feelings enough and it can be really tough - 12 men take their own life every day in the UK, so that's why the number 12 has such significance."Even going for a run is really helpful and I just want people to have meaningful connections and speak about their feelings." Mr Berry, who ran a marathon in two hours and 24 seconds - his personal best time - was driven to embark on the challenge after his high school friend took his own life."I have always wanted to do a charity challenge but that was a real calling for me to take action," he added."My parents work in the mental health sector so it has been a part of my life for as long as I have been alive and I've also struggled with my own mental health battles." 'Anorexia doesn't define me' Mr Berry was diagnosed with anorexia as a schoolboy and missed out on large portions of education due to having to spend time "in and out of hospital".According to the Priory charity, about 25% of those affected by an eating disorder are male, while about 10% of all people affected by an eating disorder suffer from anorexia Eating Disorders said anorexia nervosa has the highest mortality rate of any mental illness."Still now there is not much support and I think people don't understand the illness and it can be judged in an unfair ways, in males, especially," he told the BBC."Anorexia is the most deadly of all mental illnesses, but I am fully recovered now and I don't want it to become my identity."I've found myself now and, while it made me who I am, it doesn't define me - I am Cooper." Mr Berry, who recently ran 49 miles (79km) across Lanzarote and completed the Berlin Marathon, has 265 days of the challenge left to complete."I've been running for the majority of my life now, so it's just all about knowing when to put your foot on the accelerator and when to take it off," he said."It's been a crazy journey so far but I am glad to be at day 100 and I am sure I going to complete this."This isn't a gimmick or a fitness stunt, it's a personal mission to start conversations and remind people they're not alone." If you have been affected by this story or would like support then you can find organisations which offer help and information at the BBC Action Line Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Fewer than one in five people in Suffolk getting enough sleep
Fewer than one in five people in Suffolk got enough sleep last year, according to a mental health charity. Suffolk Mind's research revealed that only 19.7 per cent of residents felt they had a healthy amount of sleep in 2024, a significant drop from 36.7 per cent the previous year. Sleep is one of the 12 physical and emotional needs of every person, with the average adult requiring around eight hours a night to allow their bodies to repair and reduce cortisol levels. A lack of sleep can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and low mood, potentially resulting in depression if left untreated. Ezra Hewing, head of mental health education at Suffolk Mind, said: "We all have physical and emotional needs, which when met help us stay at the wellbeing side of the mental health continuum. "All of our needs are important – but sleep is especially important to both our physical and mental health." The data was gathered through Suffolk Mind's Emotional Needs Survey, an ongoing online platform where individuals can assess and report on their mental well-being. A total of 2,487 people participated in the survey, with 442 identifying their biggest obstacles to sleep. Nearly 65 per cent of respondents identified their physical or mental health as their primary barrier, while others pointed to factors such as relationships (28.7 per cent), work situation (24 per cent), and financial situation (23 per cent). Mr Hewing suggested establishing a bedtime routine free from distractions as a good step towards a healthy sleep pattern. He said: "With everything from the cost-of-living crisis to worrying about politics in the news, it is understandable that more people might find it harder to get a good night's sleep. "But small steps can make a big difference."
