As Mental Health Awareness Week approaches, conversations around grief, resilience and support networks feel more important than ever. One voice helping to shape that conversation is Charlie Smith - fitness coach, content creator, co-founder and trustee of The Hunchman Trust, a UK-based charity supporting people affected by bereavement, particularly suicide loss.

Charlie’s work sits at the intersection of mental health, physical resilience and community. But more than that, it’s rooted in lived experience.

Movement, in all its forms, has become one of the most powerful ways people are finding space to process, rebuild and reconnect. Charlie understands this from both sides.

Why this topic matters to me.

This is something I care about because of my own experience growing up. I lost my Dad to suicide 16 years ago. That experience changes you in ways that are hard to explain unless you’ve been through it. About two and a half years ago, my brothers and I set up The Hunchman Trust in his memory. The goal wasn’t just to remember him, but to actively support people who are going through the kind of grief we experienced.

When we lost our Dad, we were incredibly fortunate. We had a strong support network around us family, friends, people who showed up when we needed them most. That support played a huge role in helping us get through what had happened.

As we’ve grown older, we’ve realised that level of support isn’t the norm for everyone. A lot of people go through loss feeling isolated, unsure who to turn to.

That’s why the charity exists. It’s built from something positive that came out of a negative experience. Instead of being defined by what happened, we’ve tried to create something that helps others and keeps our Dad’s memory alive.

Pushing limits: what endurance teaches you.

For me personally, exercise became a form of therapy.

It was that one or two hours in the day where everything else sort of switched off. Didn’t matter what was going on, you just got a bit of space away from the stresses of life.

Over time I realised it wasn’t just about getting fitter. The more you push yourself physically, the tougher you get mentally. When you’re tired and want to stop but keep going anyway, it does something to your mindset. You get more used to being uncomfortable and just getting on with it.

That carries over into normal life as well. Stuff that would’ve stressed you out before feels a bit more manageable. You don’t avoid things as much.

It stopped being about fitness and just became my release.

What I see in others.

I’ve noticed a similar pattern in a lot of people.

Most start exercising with a specific goal, losing weight, building muscle, improving how they look. And that’s fine, that’s often what gets people through the door in the first place.

But very quickly, something shifts.

People start to notice they feel better mentally. They’re more productive, more focused, and generally in a better mood. Their confidence grows. They sleep better. They handle stress differently.

What started as a physical goal becomes something much bigger. The benefits spill into every part of their life. It creates a positive spiral, where improving one area lifts everything else with it.

Movement as connection.

There’s also a social side to pushing yourself physically that people often underestimate.

When you go through something challenging with others whether that’s a tough workout, a long run, or any kind of endurance challenge you bond differently. There’s a level of honesty and connection that comes from shared struggle.

You see people at their most vulnerable and their most determined. You learn about each other in ways you wouldn’t in normal day to day situations.

Those experiences build deeper relationships.

What people get wrong & where to start.

One of the biggest misconceptions around mental health is that you have to deal with it on your own.

Talking to people is one of the most important things you can do. Whether it’s friends, family, or anyone you trust - opening up is a step forward. It doesn’t have to be perfect or well articulated. Just starting the conversation matters.

Alongside that, staying active can make a huge difference. It doesn’t have to be intense or complicated. It could be as simple as going for a walk, joining a run club or playing something social like padel - anything that gets you moving and around other people regularly.

And most importantly, lean on the network around you. Even if it doesn’t feel natural at first, even if you’re not used to it, people are often more willing to help than you think. Communities can play a bigger role than you realise.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, we've created a space to bring these conversations into a real-world setting - moving together, meeting new people and connecting through shared experience.

Join Charlie at Run & Rally on Saturday 9th May, 10am-12pm.

£5 per ticket will be donated to The Hunchman Trust: Supporting young people through grief with community, connection and purpose.

Spots are limited. Book now.