Mum-of-two Claire Gibb has suffered bouts of depression throughout her life. Now preparing to scale three mountains for charity, she tells health reporter Kate Liptrot how there is hope for people who are suffering.

“CLIMBING to the top of three mountains in 24 hours couldn’t be further away from not being able to get out of bed, physically and mentally”, Claire Gibb says reflecting on the remarkable challenge she is due to undertake this weekend.

The 38-year-old from Fishergate is due to trek to the top of the three highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales in just one day, alongside a team raising funds for the mental health charity Mind.

It’s a cause which at one stage would have seemed impossible – having suffered depression throughout her life, Claire’s condition has at some stages become debilitating.

Following the birth of her son Laurence, now five, she suffered severe postnatal depression which left her feeling numb and completely detached from life. “I shut down,” she remembers.

“I didn’t have any feelings for anybody, it was really hard and it stays with you because that guilt never goes away – you can never get that time back, you feel you are trying to make it up to them all the time.

“I want to send a message to people that you might be feeling lost, hopeless or suicidal now but you won’t always feel like that.

I have gone from not being able to get out of bed to climbing mountains.

“When I was really low I couldn’t even face getting in the shower, so I know even though this challenge is going to be really hard I have conquered so much.”

Life-changing cognitive behavioural therapy she was given through the NHS a few years ago helped with her recovery, Claire said, but her depression remains something she is always aware of and something which is often misunderstood.

“There’s an assumption that people with depression are ‘feeling sorry for themselves’ or should just ‘snap out of it’,” she said.

“I hope that doing the three peaks gives people a positive image of a person with depression – that we’re not just sat round ‘feeling sorry for ourselves’.”

Claire’s challenge starts with a morning ascent of Ben Nevis before driving to the Lake District and climbing Scafell Pike through the night with only a head torch for light.

They will then have an early morning ascent of the final mountain, Snowdon.

She also will be climbing in memory of her cousin Neil Parker, alongside his wife Tanya. Neil died very suddenly at the age of 40.

Tanya said: “I have been extremely lucky to have the support of wonderful friends and family, Mind offers others similar support in their times of need so let’s help them keep helping others.”

Claire said she wants to raise £1,000 for Mind as she recalls that when she became seriously unwell as a young student in the 1990s there was no-one to help who understood. Now charities now such as Mind are invaluable.

“Mind is an essential service and does so much for people. The support is there now,” she said.

To sponsor Tanya, visit justgiving.com/3peaksforparky and to sponsor Claire, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ClaireGibbTrek.