Mental Health

Today, on World Mental Health Day 2025, we turn our focus to a community whose emotional and psychological needs are often overlooked: children living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and their families. While advancements in medical care have improved physical outcomes, the mental health impact of Duchenne is profound and frequently invisible.

Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) presents unique challenges that ripple through every aspect of family life. The emotional and mental health toll can be profound, yet there is a powerful resource that families can draw upon to navigate these difficult waters. This resource is hope. It acts as a beacon, guiding families through uncertainty and hardship, helping them to maintain resilience and emotional well-being.

Living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy brings emotional as well as physical challenges. This blog explores practical mental health strategies for patients and families, from professional therapy and support groups to mindfulness, routines, and creative outlets. Discover how small, consistent steps can build resilience, reduce isolation, and nurture well-being. With the right tools and community support, families can foster hope and strength together.

Thanks to your pledges, we’ve unlocked matched funding in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Between 3–10 December, every donation will be doubled, helping us reach £12,000 to fund expert clinical psychology for Duchenne families.

Michael McGrath MBE, founder and CEO, Muscle Help Foundation, sets the scene on a substantial body of work driven by our friends at The Muscle Help Foundation in partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, which looks at how we can better understand and support families through grief and bereavement. Reproduced with permission, copyright Rare Revolution Magazine.

We’re proud to be taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge again, with a goal of raising £12,000 to support our Chrysalis Grant Programme. To get started, we need pledgers to commit to the first £3,000 by 28th August. These early pledges unlock matched funding during the campaign week. Every pound raised will go twice as far in supporting the mental health of families living with Duchenne. Be part of something big—because families need more than hope. They need help.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of Harrison’s Fund. From helping at events to sharing skills behind the scenes, their time and care make a real difference. This Volunteers’ Week, we’re celebrating every person who’s helped us go further, reach more families, and bring vital mental health support to those facing Duchenne. Whether you’ve raised funds, spread the word, or offered your time—we see you, and we’re so grateful. Thinking of joining in? There’s never been a better time t

4 Mental Health Tips from Dr. Kirsty Gregory Supporting Duchenne families this Mental Health Awareness Week. At Harrison’s Fund, we know that living with Duchenne affects far more than just the body—it impacts the heart and mind too. That’s why mental health is a core part of the support we offer, through initiatives like our Chrysalis Grants and expert guidance from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kirsty Gregory.

With community at the heart of Mental Health Awareness Week, Michael McGrath MBE highlights the urgent need to support young people—especially those living with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In this blog, he explores the rising mental health challenges and shines a spotlight on Harrison’s Fund’s Project Chrysalis, a vital initiative offering funded access to expert psychological support for families affected by DMD.

Supporting the Mental Health of Families Affected by Duchenne. Stress Awareness Month is a time to pause and reflect on the emotional challenges we carry, especially for those living with or caring for someone with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Whether you’re a young person managing life with Duchenne or a parent, carer, or healthcare provider supporting them, stress can show up in many forms: fatigue, anxiety, loneliness, overwhelm, or simply the quiet mental weight of day-to

incredibly proud to share a huge milestone: we have now funded 150 sessions of clinical psychology through the Chrysalis Grants programme

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news, Harrison’s Fund has been awarded a £40,000 grant to support our pioneering Chrysalis Grants.

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Today, on World Mental Health Day, I want to share a story that began in the depths of despair but has now taken flight as a beacon of hope. It's the story of my journey as a parent facing my child's Duchenne muscular dystrophy diagnosis. The day we heard those life-altering words was like stepping into a bottomless black void. The weight of despair bore down on us, and hopelessness seemed to engulf every inch of our world. It's on days like those that we desperately yearned