Stuart ‘Stu’ Skinner, 45, from Weymouth, has been made an MBE for services to mental health awareness.
He is the founder of the registered charity Head Outside, the Head Outside Awards, and the creator of Postcards from the Peaks, a nationwide project designed to tackle loneliness through walking, storytelling and human connection.
Stu’s passion comes from his own struggles with mental health which began in 1998 aged 19 following a distressing event which led him to be diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder and PTSD.
Stuart Skinner has been awarded an MBE for services to mental health (Image: Stuart Skinner MBE)
An avid adventurer, his achievements include a solo, unsupported trek across the length of Jordan, becoming the first person in the world to complete the Seven Summits Sinai Trail in one continuous journey, and a thru hike of the Appalachian Trail. He was also a torch bearer for the Olympic Games in 2012.
Stu, who has spoken to the Echo at length about experiences with depression and self-harm, also cycled 4,000 miles across South East Asia in 2007 to raise awareness for mental health and said that being outdoors is amazing.
Speaking about receiving his good news, Stu said: “I just came back from a Head Outside weekend which was quite intense and I was on a bit of a come down when I got home and was checking through the post.
“I was looking through my letters, and I thought it was a bill or bank statement and didn’t really think anything of it. It was overwhelming, but I am shocked and ecstatic to receive the honour.
Stuart Skinner has been awarded an MBE for services to mental health (Image: Stuart Skinner MBE)
“It makes me feel fulfilled in my work. I have had to make a lot of sacrifices, and this is like a validation and reminder to myself that I chose the right path.”
Over the past decade, Stu has been a pioneer of Mental Health First Aid within the adventure and outdoor industry, helping to make expeditions safer and more inclusive for people experiencing poor mental health.
Stuart Skinner has been awarded an MBE for services to mental health (Image: Stuart Skinner MBE)
In recent years, his work has increasingly focused on loneliness and community connection. Postcards from the Peaks saw Stu carry a cast iron Royal Mail post-box to the highest point in all 15 UK National Parks, inviting walkers, strangers, schools and communities to stop, write postcards and connect.
Thousands of postcards have since been sent across the UK and beyond, with walks continuing well beyond the original challenge.
He hopes receiving his honour will inspire others: “I would love for it to give people courage. People often go through something like I have without hope, and that the diagnosis might come across as a barrier, but hopefully people will think maybe it is not, and that opening up about mental health on a platform can help us to achieve our dreams and make the world a better place. I’ve been challenging the stigma of mental health for the last 23 years.
“I love bringing people together and talking about Weymouth, about my experience and the benefits of being outdoors.”
Stuart Skinner has been awarded an MBE for services to mental health (Image: Stuart Skinner MBE)
Stu founded Changing Horizons in 2011 which focuses on delivering Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) nationwide and continues to pursue the ongoing mission to create a healthier, more inclusive society.
He secured funding to deliver MHFA to 320 students, staff and volunteers in South Devon & Dorset and provided training to 100 Outdoor Educators. He has been a trailblazer in the field of mental health for outdoor practitioners.
A short film documenting Postcards from the Peaks is currently in production and is due for release in March. The film explores loneliness and the power of me conversation and meaningful connection.
Stu said: “Next year I will be looking to shine a light at the people involved at Head Out, and I will be releasing a film on my post cards journey.
“A big highlight has been going to school and having profound conversations with children on loneliness, a pandemic that has been getting worse and worse.”