Jonathan Kemp, begins the Irish leg of his incredible 10-month ‘Finding Peace of Mind Walk’ across Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland sparking open conversations about mental health along the way and raising money for Aware, alongside three other mental health charities SAMH (Scotland), Mind (England & Wales), and Aware NI (Northern Ireland).
On 9th September Jonathan Kemp will cross the border into Dundalk, embarking on the last section of his incredible 4,200km walking challenge traveling through a number of Irish counties before finishing up in Galway 19-21st October.
Starting on the 1st January 2026 in the depths of winter, Jonathan began his journey from Shetland island; and has been walking through Scotland, England, Wales and N.Ireland – sharing his lived experience of mental health difficulties through building a life of purpose and hope, with those he encounters along the way, with the aim of
- Normalising conversations about mental health,
- Reducing the stigma that sometimes remains associated, and
- Inspiring others to keep going, and
- Fundraising for mental health charities.
Follow, Support & Join Jonathan’s Walking Challenge
You can follow along Jonathan’s daily experiences through Linkedin here and instagram here – and make a donation in support of his fundraiser through GoFundMe here.
He will be passing through the following counties during September and October (see expected dates/locations below, these may vary) and invites members of the public to walk alongside him for a mile, a day, or more, if you can – or simply offer support from the side-lines.
Reach out to Jonathan through his whatsapp details on his link tree here – should you wish to arrange to walk alongside him or invite him to give a talk from his lived experience on mental health.
- Louth – 9-10th September
- Dublin – 15th September
- Carlow – 19th September
- Kilkenny – 21-22nd September
- Wexford – 26th September
- Waterford – 29-30th September
- Cork – 7th October
- Limerick – 13-14th October
- Ennis, Co. Clare – 16th October
- Galway – 19-21st October
More about Jonathan Kemp
For the first 40 years of his life, Jonathan battled undiagnosed mental health conditions, and contemplated death by suicide. He spent years trying to distance himself from family expectations (as the future 3rd Viscount Rochdale, in the UK), searching for a sense of well-being as a punk, a cowboy in Australia, a London bricklayer, a Metropolitan Police sergeant, and later an entrepreneur. Jonathan Kemp is a survivor, author, and mental health advocate who was unaware for many years that bipolar disorder, depression, addiction and dyslexia were shaping his life. He has appeared on BBC Radio, TedX and in the Times and Tatler.
He won the British Dyslexia Association’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 2011 and has worked with organisations and academic institutions using SmartWisdom (a note taking technique developed by Jonathan Kemp) to support people to excel at work meetings and study lessons and lectures.
- Published in 2025 (Troubador, October 2025, £12.99), his memoir ‘Finding Peace of Mind: An inspirational journey’ through bipolar, depression, addiction and dyslexia – can be found here
- Read more about Jonathan in his 2025 interview with Ben Jureidini of Tatler here
- Read more about Jonathan’s walking challenge in his recent interview with The Irish News here
- Listen to Jonathan share his lived experience as part of the Aware October Webinar – more info here.
–Aware Support & Self Care Groups take place in person or online across Ireland – offering supportive, confidential and proactive spaces where you can talk openly about the impact of depression, bipolar, or anxiety. Peers share their experiences, understanding, thoughts and techniques on self-care and resilience. If you’re living with depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety – or if you’re concerned about someone you care about – these groups are a safe, welcoming space where you can find support, compassion, and guidance – find out more here.
Empowering people to look after their mental health is an important part of Aware’s supports including our Living Well with Bipolar Programme. A free educational programme delivered by a mental health professional, designed to empower participants by deepening their understanding of bipolar and helping to identify personal triggers for mood changes – this programme provides a strong foundation for thriving with bipolar. Registrations for the next course and more details available here.
For those friends and family supporting a loved one experiencing bipolar or depression, Aware also offers a Family and Friends Support Programme, an educational programme providing information, understanding and practical support. This free programme aims to equip participants with the tools to better understand and support a loved one, whilst maintaining their own wellbeing. Registration and more information available here.