Northamptonshire ex-Army Sergeant is award finalist after mental health group success

Army veteran Nick Wilson, from Towcester, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Veterans Awards after setting up his own mental health charity, Racing Minds.

The Veterans Awards celebrates the highly successful veterans and reservists who have made the transition from military to civilian life.

Nick has been shortlisted within The Community Award catergory for his dedication to mental health following his own battles with mental illness over the past four years.

After 14 years of service in the Army, Nick was diagnosed with seven prolapsed spinal discs, PTSD, osteoarthritis in his knees and fibromyalgia back in 2012, which he still fights everyday.

Nick, who served on operational tours in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan, was inspired to set up a mental health support group after finding it difficult to get professional help for his wellbeing.

He wanted to raise awareness of mental illnesses within the veteran community, to reduce stigma and to show other men how to take a step forward.

Nick's support group, Men's Minds Matter, was set up in July with just two members and two months on he is helps 30 men and is getting ready to run three groups.

Nick's work has also included running two successful mental health campaigns where he has reached over 250,000 people on social media and 'saved the lives' of 10 people.

He said: “This is a win as far as I am concerned, a win for my male support groups and for all the courageous guys who have managed to take the first step towards gaining support, guidance and empowerment.

"Being shortlisted provides us with an opportunity to raise more awareness for men’s mental health and to spread the message that the time is now for guys to come forward and gain support before they get into crisis."