Business Name: Free your mind
Support received: Local initiative for Redbridge residents
Location: London
Website: http://www.freeyourmindcic.com/
Natasha Benjamin, a social entrepreneur founded her mental health support organisation Free Your Mind in 2013, influenced by her own experiences.
We spoke to Natasha about her move into running her own business.
What inspired you to set up Free Your Mind?
My personal experience influenced my business model. I started a blog in 2012 after I was diagnosed with acute depression as a way to put my experience into words and share what I was going through with others in a similar situation.
What initially started as a self-coping mechanism, soon morphed into a blog with a strong following – where readers were able to contribute, share and express themselves.
Having previously worked in marketing, I never envisaged starting or running a business until my personal experience motivated me to take the plunge.
I decided to turn the blog into a social enterprise delivering a range of workshops, events and support groups. I wanted to help educate people about mental health and wellbeing, and show people how they can self-manage their emotions safely. My own experience brought me to want to help others.
