Bhupinder Sandhu Sets Off from London to Cardiff in Powerful Walk for Mental Health Awareness

Bhupinder Sandhu, a mindfulness coach and mental health advocate, has officially set off from Parliament Square in London on foot, heading for Cardiff — a bold journey aimed at breaking the stigma around mental health, especially within South Asian communities.

Walking in support of the mental health charity Mind, Sandhu began his multi-day trek yesterday (Sunday October 19), carrying with him a message of hope, awareness, and the urgent need for open conversations about mental health.

Picture credit: Pukaar News

“I’ve set off on this journey to shine a light on something too many people suffer through in silence,” Sandhu said as he departed. “We need to talk about mental health — especially in communities where it’s still seen as taboo.”

The route from London to Cardiff is not just physically demanding — it is symbolic. Every step is dedicated to those silently struggling with mental health issues and those lost to them. For Bhupinder, this walk is as much a mental test as it is a physical one.

“You can train your body, but it’s the mind that will get you through,” he said. “Mental strength, visualisation, and staying present — that’s what this journey is all about.”

A key focus of Sandhu’s mission is to confront the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in South Asian communities. He highlights that while one in four people will face a mental health issue, acknowledgment and support are still lacking in many families.

“In our communities, we focus on what can be seen — success, wealth, image. But mental health is invisible, and because of that, it’s often ignored,” he explained.

He urges families to watch for behavioural changes in children and loved ones, such as withdrawal, mood shifts, or altered eating habits — signs that may point to someone in distress.

Throughout his journey, between October 19 and 26, Sandhu is also using his platform to raise awareness about the work of Mind, one of the UK’s largest mental health charities offering support through text, online services, and community outreach.

Picture credit: Pukaar News

His advice for anyone struggling is simple but powerful: don’t suffer in silence.

“There is so much help out there today. We’re not living in the past — people are more aware, more educated. But you have to take the first step: talk to someone.”

“This walk is for everyone who’s ever felt alone, and for every family that doesn’t yet know someone close to them is suffering. We need to keep talking, every single day.”

In a powerful statement on his social media, Bhupinder added: “London to Cardiff maybe the route for my walk but the real destination is a world where no one feels ashamed to say I’m struggling; a world where mental health is treated with the same urgency and compassion as physical health.

“Until we get there I will keep walking one step at a time, raising awareness, breaking stigma and reminding everyone that it’s okay to ask for help.”

To follow Bhupinder Sandhu’s journey or learn more about his work, visit www.walkitout.org