From Edinburgh to the Arctic: Melissa's Challenge for Mental Health
In March 2027, Melissa Hart will push herself to the limit as she treks across rural Finland in freezing temperatures to support SAMH and champion better mental health across the construction industry.
In March 2027, our Senior Architect and Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) Melissa Hart will embark on the Arctic Adventure Challenge in support of the charity, Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH).
Over five gruelling days, she will be pushed to her limits as she attempts to trek across rural Finland in temperatures as low as -20 degrees C. The challenge includes cross-country skiing, snowshoe treks; building igloos; husky sledding and generally trying to survive the arctic wilderness.
This challenge won't just be physically demanding but also mentally. As well as raising funds for the charity, Melissa also wants to raise more awareness of mental health by taking on this challenge. The construction industry experiences some of the highest rates of poor mental health and one of the most shocking statistics we currently face across the UK is 2 construction workers take their own lives every working day.
At jmarchitects, we have several trained MHFA’s who support our colleagues. They can act as a first point of contact but aren't the only solution. We urgently need to address this widespread issue and support charities such as SAMH to provide the services and facilities which are accessible to everyone.
You can find out more about Melissa’s challenge and her preparation updates on her JustGiving page here: Melissa Hart is fundraising for Scottish Action for Mental Health
"We are delighted to welcome Melissa to our 2027 Arctic Challenge team in support of SAMH. This is a tough overseas challenge, physically and mentally, with the team tackling arctic temperatures while completing demanding activities like snowshoe trekking and cross-country skiing.
"The funds we receive support our vital services in communities across the country and bring us one step closer to our goal of a Scotland where anyone can ask once and get help fast. We couldn’t run our services without the incredible support and generosity of people like Melissa."
Catherine Bunch, SAMH
