"People are scared to talk about it, but they should be scared about not talking about it." HRH Prince Harry

*Who better than to trigger this conversation around Mental Health but our Royal Family and they do a wonderful job of highlighting this, supporting this and ensuring people know it is 'okay not to be okay.'

I have become extremely attached to this cause - moreover Mental Health Issues in our Armed Forces and how our servicemen and women suffer so much post combat.

For me it came after watching 'Bear Grills - The Island' where a veteran showed immense physical pain on television during a thunder storm, affected by the sounds of the thunder bolts post her time in combat. I sobbed at the TV wishing I was able to take away that pain.

Then I became fortunate enough to start work on a major event in Westminster to raise money for this cause 18 months ago. Since that day I have, rightly or wrongly, become emotionally invested in my event management work on this project (a line I never thought I would hear myself say) and I want to do my upmost to ensure we raise as much money as possible for these men and women who fought for our country so we can enable them to receive the support they require to get back to everyday life post combat.

The event I am working on is called 100 Days to Peace. 100 Days to Peace is an evening of music and reflection taking place on 6th September 2018 as part of the state commemorative activities for the First World War centenary. The event will commemorate the last one hundred days of First World War hostilities and will raise funds for three leading charities involved in supporting veterans who are suffering from a range of mental health conditions. Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and HRH Prince William, HRH Prince Harry and Duchess of Cambridge's Heads Together Campaign under the Royal Foundation.

At the end of the First World War many thousands of men returned home suffering from shell-shock. With minimal understanding of the condition, many did not benefit from the type of support which is increasingly available today. Although circumstances have changed drastically over the last 100 years, we are ever more aware of the number of veterans who continue to need support because they suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety or depression.

As the national museum of arms and armour, the Royal Armouries is involved in telling the stories of the men and women who have been involved in and affected by combat throughout history. The music which will be at the heart of this classical evening, The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, was commissioned by the Royal Armouries to mark the turn of the millennium. Composed by Sir Karl Jenkins – the most performed composer of our time – The Armed Man will be the highlight of a moving evening at a major Westminster Venue (Central Hall Westminster) with a full supporting programme, in aid of the three outstanding charities above supporting ex-service men and women facing mental health challenges.

If you know anyone who feels like I do and wants to support to this cause (tickets start from ￡49.00) then please, if you do one thing today, put this in your diary and join us on the 6th September for what promises to be a very moving, incredible evening. https://royalarmouries.org/event/100-days-to-peace/

Thank you for taking a moment from your day.....

Faye

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(*All thoughts are my own)