Subscribe to trusted local news
In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.
- Subscription costs less than £1 a week with an annual plan.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
12
Oct
‘It’s alright to feel down at times’: How covid and the loss of his father inspired mayor’s mental health fund
“It’s alright to feel down at times. It’s normal,” says David Skaith as he reflects on his life during the covid pandemic.
Mr Skaith, the Labour Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, this week launched a £7 million fund aimed at tackling health and wellbeing.
The campaign, called “Moving Forward”, looks to address areas such as activity and sport, men’s mental health and active travel.
But the fund has a personal story behind it, one which stretches back to 2020 when the UK was put into lockdown and businesses were forced to close due to the coronavirus.
Mr Skaith, who owns Winstons clothing shop in York, was one of thousands of business owners in the city and beyond who were forced to close under covid restrictions.
His shop on Swinegate was shut for nearly a year. Following that, his father, Bob, became poorly in 2021.
David Skaith on a bike.
He died in hospital after four days without anyone seeing him due to covid restrictions.
For Mr Skaith, the feeling of loss compounded what was already a tough situation. Speaking in an interview with the Stray Ferret, he said:
During covid, I had a business that had to close for some time and my dad became poorly and we lost him the year after.
Like a typical bloke, you suppress your feelings down and you stop engaging with people. I stopped playing sport and seeing friends.
Mr Skaith, a keen cricketer and rugby player, said he remembered thinking “he was not right” and not feeling himself. As a result, he forced himself to seek help.
He said:
I found that when my mental health was at its lowest, it was because I was not engaging with people and I was not speaking with people. I was not looking after myself.”
That’s where developing a men’s mental health taskforce came from, but also creating the movement, activity and sports fund.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire.
Launched this week, Mr Skaith’s health and wellbeing fund, which is backed with £7 million in mayoral funding, will aim to target areas such as sport and health.
The move comes after the mayor already approved funding to tackle men's mental health in the region in July.
Part of the fund will go towards supporting more women and girls to take part in movement, activity and sport, remove barriers for disabled people by supporting inclusive activities, tackle rural isolation and support early intervention and prevention for health, anti-social behaviour and crime.
The fund will be managed by regional charity North Yorkshire Sport.
Mr Skaith added:
Sport changed my life, and I want as many people as possible to have that same opportunity.
0