STEM4 the award winning teenage mental health charity that promotes early awareness and intervention of eating disorders, anxiety and depression, self-harm and addiction is delighted to announce the appointment of Naomi Cavaday as an Ambassador.
Naomi (25) from Bexley, top 10 British Women’s Tennis player, will bring her own personal experience of battling bulimia and depression to the team. She is now back on tour and enjoying playing competitively again. Her illness caused her to retire from the game for three years. Now healthy and confident with her first tournament win under her belt in Egypt on the Futures Tour, she feels ready to help STEM4.
Dr Nihara Krause, CEO and Founder of STEM4 said: “STEM4 welcomes Naomi not only as a fantastic role model but also because teenagers relate well to personal stories, will like the fact she is a young sportswoman and they will take a very positive message from her recovery. Reducing stigma and encouraging teenagers to develop confidence in asking for help is something we encourage, as well as offering support to their friends, teachers and families in being receptive to disclosure and to know where to signpost them for help.”
Naomi said: “I have chosen to support STEM4 as I passionately believe that supporting and educating teenagers in schools is crucial for early intervention in mental health. I struggled with depression and an eating disorder through adolescence, but I didn't realise at the time what was going on. Increased awareness, education and less stigma would have meant I would have felt more comfortable about speaking out earlier and been able to get the help I needed to deal with what I was experiencing. STEM4 is tackling this head on by going in to schools and educating teachers, parents and pupils about the issues and difficulties so many teenagers face”.
