Mental health: Sailing solo around England to get people talking

Posted On: May 11, 2024

Legend, Freya Terry has spent the last few months working on her ship to prepare herself for the challenge

Author, Kate Morgan
role, Community Correspondent, BBC Wales
55 minutes ago

“Sailing gave me a personality outside of my mental health problems,” says Freya Terry.

The 21-year-old from Pembrokeshire will embark on a solo journey around the UK and Ireland, covering a distance of 2,300 nautical miles.

If she completes the challenge, she will set a record as the youngest and first woman to sail solo around Britain and Ireland.

But for the sailor, this is more than just a race, it is the culmination of a decade-long journey with his mental health.

Legend, Freya Terry started sailing at the age of 11 and is now a qualified yacht instructor.

The cruise instructor’s journey with his mental health began at the age of 11, when he began sailing.

“It just came down to a lot of little things, and then I had a hard time transitioning to high school and making friends,” he said.

“I started isolating myself a lot and that’s when my struggles started and things got worse from then on.”

The sailor described himself as isolated and withdrawn, unwilling to talk to family, friends or medical professionals.

He added: “I’ve lost a lot of trust in people and I don’t talk to people, so I sit in a therapist’s office and I don’t talk to them.”

Legend, The 21-year-old said she was very nervous about speaking openly about her mental health.

Sitting in the back of his boat at Neyland Marina, he recalls the nights he ran away without telling anyone, injuring himself and hiding it from those closest to him.

“It showed me that I’m not alone in this and that this is a real thing, that other people are dealing with it too, and that it’s not my fault that this happened, and it means a lot to me.” he says.

Legend, Freya’s mother, Julie Campbell, said she hoped she would change her mind about the trip.

His newfound confidence shocked those close to him, including his mother Julie Campbell who said she was “absolutely amazed”.

This mother of four admitted that she could not imagine her daughter facing such challenges.

“When you’re in it… you just take it day by day, one week at a time… I just don’t look ahead… we just take it day by day and week by month,” he added.

The 60-year-old laughed nervously as he said that while he was proud, he wished he hadn’t.

“I mean, I trust him as a sailor, but as a mother I’m just scared,” she added.

Legend, Sailors would often stop during the journey to meet people and pick up supplies.

For Freya, being on the waves was the most exciting part, it was telling her about her other journey that scared her the most.

“The thing that scares me the most or is the most nervous is talking to people and talking about mental health because it’s so hard and I think it’s okay to say it, but I do it anyway,” she added.