PICTURES: SSE staff brave dip in Loch Ness with strongmen Stoltman brothers for Mikeysline
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Enthusiastic staff from SSE Renewables braved a dip in Loch Ness with the strongmen Stoltman brothers for a mental health charity.
Tom Stoltman, the world's strongest man, and his brother, Luke, recently shared their struggles with mental health with SSE staff, talking about how they dealt with their own insecurities.
As a result, more than 30 staff were inspired to take to the chilly water in a challenge which raised £400 for the Highland grassroots charity, Mikeysline.
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In sharing their struggles with mental health, one of Tom and Luke's missions is to try normalise and encourage men talking about their feelings and emotions.
Both brothers regularly take to the cold water, as a way of therapy to support their own mental health.
When Allana Stables of Mikeysline challenged the SSE Renewables team to join the Stoltmans, there was a huge
amount of support.
William Caithness, operations manager for SSE Renewables said: "Our key message and focus this year has been around wellbeing and mental health and the challenge really put us to the test.
"It was a first for me and many of the team to brave the cold water. It certainly won’t be the last.
"Cold water therapy certainly gave us all a euphoria high."
He thanked Allana Stables for making the event happen and the Cameron Tearoom for warming up everyone afterwards.
Mikeysline was founded in 2015 following the tragic deaths of good friends, Martin Shaw and Michael Williamson within 48 hours of each other.
Aiming to offer hope and support to others, it has made huge steps in reducing stigma around mental health and in suicide prevention in the north of Scotland.
Its services can be found via a text line service at 07786 207755; WhatsApp at 01463 729000 and via the Mikeysline
website; and live chat, Twitter and Messenger via its website.
