During the coronavirus pandemic, one in six children were affected by a mental health condition. Mental Health of Children and Young People (MHCYP) survey found these numbers had risen by October 2020, from one in nine. Here, young people were reporting high levels of loneliness, disrupted sleep and anxiety.
The closure of schools across the UK was another reason for the struggles with young people, as youngsters were no longer able to socialise with friends. For Jack Sutcliffe, he was just 14-years-old when the nation went in to lockdown.
As the country shut down, Jack from Pendle struggled with his mental health and began to change from his usual happy, bright and outgoing self. The engaged teenager beloved by his family and friends had slowly slid into depression.
His dad, Robert, from Foulridge in Pendle, explained: “During that year, Jack – a promising and engaged student - lost all interest in education and withdrew into himself.
“He loved being outdoors so having his time reduced to an hour a day really affected him and when he returned to school in 2021, he was a different person and struggled to re-engage.”
In February 2023, tragic family news worsened Jack's behaviour. His mum Claire was diagnosed with breast cancer aged just 42 and underwent surgery and radiotherapy. Naturally, this was tough on the teenager and it contributed towards his lack of enthusiasm for school.
Things did look up when Claire was declared cancer free and Jack passed the minimum GCSEs needed for a place at college and his family were thrilled, but this was short-lived. Struggling to find a purpose, Jack turned 18 in October 2024 and announced to his family he wanted to go travelling.
But not just your run-of-the-mill travelling, Jack wants to reach Everest Base camp in Nepal.
“He told us at Christmas and although his mum was nervous, I was over the moon. It suddenly gave him a purpose and he fuelled all his energy into planning for the trip. But best of all he seemed happier than he had in a long time,” Robert added.
On April 14, Jack will be setting off from Manchester and landing in Kathmandu the following day. He will begin his trek a few days later, hoping to reach Everest Base camp on April 27.
The teenager will then travel overland through India and will volunteer at an orphanage in Delhi before heading to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal. Jack will return to the UK on May 29 and has organised the whole trip with help from his family, including flights, a guide, lodgings and food.
He has also confirmed his plans to do the 80-mile base camp circuit over 14 days by trekking from Lukla (2,860m high) to Everest base camp (5,364m high) - while carrying his 15kg rucksack.
“For us, this is a really beautiful thing to witness as the excitement and focus we have witnessed over the past several weeks in Jack reminds us all of the boy that he used to be, and we are ever hopeful that this is a positive sign of the man he is growing into,” added Robert. “The one constant that has lifted Jack out of his low mood is his love of the great outdoors, wild spaces and nature, so this challenge is perfect.”
Grandad Mark, an experienced Himalayan explorer, will accompany Jack on the trip. He hopes to raise funds for hospital charity ELHT&Me which will help provide new equipment, improve facilities and enhance the patient environment across the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust sites.
“As a family, the NHS has played an important role in our lives. Claire has thankfully been given the all-clear and Jack has left the past couple of years behind him and is moving forwards positively and it’s all thanks to the help and services available,” said Robert, a Programme Manager at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.
“This is Jack’s way of giving someone back while at the same time having an amazing adventure and hopefully returning home with a new focus and direction – as well as doing a bit of good along the way!”
You can donate to Jack's adventure on his Just Giving page.
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