Mental health is a big issue around the world, but together we can make a difference. This October, Bhupinder Sandhu, a mindfulness coach from London, is setting out on a long walk to raise awareness for mental health.
Between October 19 and 26, he will walk from Parliament Square in London to the Welsh Parliament in Cardiff.
Picture: Supplied
His mission is simple: start conversations, reduce stigma, and encourage positive change. Mr Sandhu wants people to understand that mental health affects everyone, everywhere.
“I want people to join this journey, even if just in spirit or virtually,” he says. “Every step I take is a chance to talk about mental health, because it matters to all of us.”
Sandhu has personal reasons for taking on this challenge. At the age of 13 or 14, he went through a short period of depression. He was lucky to recover quickly, but that experience stuck with him.
“I want to raise awareness for all those who are struggling with mental health,” he explains. “My father’s health also made me realise how important it is to talk about mental health. When I went to see him in India, he didn’t recognise me. It was shocking. I think he has dementia, but he still keeps up with his daily routine. It made me realise that we all need to pay more attention to mental health, no matter how old we are.”
The Covid-19 lockdown was also a huge wake up call for Sandhu when his neighbour died by suicide.
“His parents went to India and he was stuck home by himself,” he explains. “It was a huge shock when the police turned up and we learned the devastating news that he had taken his life.
“Covid was a scary time for a lot of people and I think the long lasting effects have been underestimated,” he adds. “There was a lot of uncertainty and many people found themselves in this negative spiral. The after effects – the anxiety and the stress has continued into the present day and something needs to be done.”
This isn’t Bhupinder’s first big walk for mental health. In 2023, he walked from London to Edinburgh, a 19-day journey to raise awareness and funds for the mental health charity Mind. Since then, he’s walked from London to Cardiff and from London to Brighton. His walks always have the same goal: to get people talking about mental health.
Picture: Supplied
“I don’t focus on fundraising. I focus on awareness,” says the 45-year-old. “The more we talk about mental health, the more we can break the stigma.”
In past walks, Sandhu has used every opportunity to speak out about mental health. When he reached Cardiff in 2024, he made a speech outside the Welsh Parliament calling for unity in addressing the crisis.
“The numbers are shocking,” he said. “Over 1 billion people around the world suffer from mental health issues. If we don’t act now, we’ll have more mental health facilities than prisons in the next 20 years. We need to come together and do something about it.”
Sandhu also points to the role that technology and social media play in mental health problems. “We’re taking in more information every day than people did 100 years ago in an entire year. This constant flow of information is wearing us down,” he explains.
As a mindfulness coach, Bhupinder believes in the importance of slowing down and connecting with ourselves. “We need to take breaks from technology and spend time focusing on ourselves. Simple things like eating well, living simply, and breathing properly can help a lot.”
Walking is one of Bhupinder’s ways of staying grounded. “I walk without headphones or music. I just enjoy nature and focus on my breath. It helps me clear my mind,” he tells Pukaar.
He believes the government needs to do more to address mental health. “There should be one government department dedicated to mental health, with proper funding and support,” he argues. “Politicians don’t always understand the issue, and they need to listen to the people who are affected by it.”
He also says that mental health should be talked about every day, not just on special days or weeks. “We need to make mental health a daily conversation.”
As Bhupinder Sandhu walks from London to Cardiff, he invites everyone to join him in raising awareness for mental health. Whether it’s by walking with him, sharing his journey online, or simply starting a conversation about mental health in your community—every little bit helps.
“We can all make a difference,” he says. “Let’s walk it out and break the silence.”
To follow Bhupinder Sandhu’s journey or learn more about his work, visit www.walkitout.org.
