One Mans Mountain Mera Peak Appeal.
Promoting Positive Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a very destructive condition. Recovery is often thought as 'near' impossible. A very high percentage of those diagnosed with schizophrenia are unable to work or live life without torment due to the demoralising and destructive symptoms. The low expectancy of recovery, the mistreatment and management of symptoms and the stigma and discrimination towards those who are diagnosed can be just as destructive as the disease itself.
Stuart Baker-Brown, a campaigner and activist for greater understanding and treatment towards schizophrenia was diagnosed with the disease in 1996. For many years he has promoted his own positive recovery to help inspire and offer hope to all those who share his diagnosis.
Mera Peak Challenge.
In October 2008, Stuart will visit Nepal and attempt to get to the summit of Mera Peak 6500m. Mera Peak is very achievable for 'strong trekkers' and the capabilities of summiting without experienced mountaineering skills are high. Stuart has visited Nepal on several occasions and completed his first trek to Everest Base Camp in 2003. His achievements and story of recovery has been covered in the media.
We Need Your Support.
In order for Stuart Baker-Brown to get to Mera Peak he needs to raise £3000. Stuart hopes that his summit will help to inspire the 51 million people around the world who are diagnosed with schizophrenia to reach their own potential recovery in life. Stuart's own achievements and recovery has already helped many. Please donate generously and support Stuart Baker-Brown’s attempt to reach even 'greater heights' and send a very positive message of 'hope' to all those who share his diagnosis.
Please Donate Generously. You can make a donation via the One Mans Mountain website or contact Stuart Baker-Brown directly at-15 Acreman Street, Cerne Abbas, Dorchester, Dorset, DT2 7JX. UK. Email: s.bakerbrown@virgin.net
With your valued support and kind donation, Stuart can continue to inspire those who need a 'ray of light' in the demoralising and misunderstood world of schizophrenia.
By donating, you will help Stuart get to the top of Mera Peak and play a vital role in Promoting Positive Schizophrenia and Positive Recovery.
With Our Greatest Thanks.
Stuart Baker-Brown and the One Mans Mountain Team.
Mera Peak 2008.
Another year of trying to raise money and sponsorship for my Everest climb has past and as previous years, the one mans mountain team has hit brick wall, after brick wall. My potential climb on Everest raises a lot of unnecessary eyebrows and the general opinion is, as ever-the task is just to risky for someone who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia. I have approached many of the top companies in the UK, amongst many others, the common response, if I get a response at all, is that their charitable donations are already allocated to other events. Mental health charities in the UK have also, once again, shown no or very little support with highlighting or raising awareness of my potential challenge.
The stigma and lack of understanding towards schizophrenia is immense. Even from those who claim to understand! Unfortunately this means I do not have the funds to get to Everest for 2008 and Im not sure if it will be achievable for 2009.
But all is not lost!
In march 2006 I attempted to climb Mera Peak 6500m in Nepal but could not get to the top. The summit was under 12ft of snow and it was decided that the climb to the summit was to dangerous.
I want to prove that we are ALL capable of achieving our goals and to help inspire others with my shared diagnosis to reach their own potential in life.
So, I am making plans to get back to Nepal in October 2008 and try to summit Mera Peak again!
October is an ideal time to climb Mera and the conditions are far more favourable than when I tried in march 2006- which was out of season and the snow fall was heavy.
This could potentially send out a very important message about schizophrenia and show others that Everest is a possibility for me-in the future! Mera Peak has been testing ground for past Everest expeditions.
It is not through lack of passion and self belief that stops my Everest goals from being reached but lack of support and moral backing from others. If I don't have the funding, then I cant get there!
My heart and faith in my own capabilities and others who share my diagnosis is always so strong. I have passion and determination to prove that my diagnosis will not hold me back and a strong recovery is possible for us all! Although my passion and self belief is tested by the huge stigma and misunderstanding towards my condition, I feel convinced that one day, I will climb Everest. If I can prove that I can climb Mera, which i will need to raise £3000, maybe that will open doors and Everest will become a greater possibility, for sure! Lets hope!
For more information please contact s.bakerbrown@virgin.net or visit www.onemansmountain.com
Stuart Baker-Brown.
Many people I have contact with who suffer with schizophrenia often tell me they feel outside forces are trying to harm them with the use of telekinetic/psychic powers.
I myself, for many years, felt that the secret services were trying to drive me mad with the use of remote viewing, a process where psychics are used to spy on people to discover how they were feeling about politics, domestic and foriegn issues.
These thoughts began on my return to London from the USSR, where i took part in marching against communism on the streets of moscow in 1991. At the time i believed this was happening to me, i had'nt been diagnosed with schizophrenia and did not have any understanding of the destructive and unusual symptoms attached to the diagnosis.
I became extremely paranoid and feared my involvment with the marches because of 'home beliefs' about the KGB. I became sure that they wanted to harm me and that i was being followed in london.
Unbeknown to me, the stress and anxiety quickly and devastatingly turned into schizophrenia. I started to believe, because i had heard of remote viewing, that my symptoms, the anxiety, the voices and paranoia, were part of the KGB's attempt to harm me with telekinetic/psychic powers and punish me for my involment with the marching.
The feeling of being controlled by outside forces were provoked by my fear of persecution.
I aslo became very concerned that 'they' knew i knew about 'them' and what they were trying to do to me, so began to fear for my life because i had recognised the advanced uses of this method to destroy and control. I became convinced that all my symptoms of undiagnosed schizophrenia, were the secret service driving me to suicide, so i would not 'spill the beans' of their 'secret and powerful' acitivities over me and others in society.
Once i was diagnosed with schizophrenia, it was with some relief, as though i had finally met with my real enemy! I researched the illness and learnt one of the strong symptoms was feeling 'controlled' by outside forces.
The cure and eventual release from these thoughts, came from correct medication, understanding my symptoms and listening to 'others' who shared my diagnosis, understanding that feeling controlled by outside forces was common amongst fellow sufferers.
I always say that we, the sufferer, will provide the best cure and road to recovery. This comes, as always, with greater understanding and acceptance of schizophrenia symptoms.
So, to anyone that can recognise the above. Please accept that the feelings of being controlled by outside forces is a STRONG SYMPTOM of SCHIZOPHRENIA and with that recognition and understanding hopefully some of your fears will be eased.
Acceptance and understanding is part of the key to recovery.
Stuart Baker-Brown.