YouTube star and author, Zoe Sugg AKA Zoella, launches fundraising page for her birthday, asking followers for one thing - to donate

Mental health charity, Mind, holds a special place in Zoella’s heart, as she explains in her latest YouTube video. Having dealt with her own mental health battles, Zoe has asked her 13.2 million Twitter followers for just one birthday gift this year, to donate money to the charity.

In the video, Zoe explains why she’s set up the fundraising page, and what the charity means to her. She says: “One of the things I wanted to do this year was to raise awareness, and raise money for something that I actually talk about in this vlog, and something that I have talked about for years, and that is mental health.”

“As you guys know I am very open with mental health and the struggles that I have had with anxiety,” Zoe explains. “And that is why I wanted today, on my birthday, to start a fundraising page for Mind, which is a charity that I am digital ambassador of.”

“It’s a charity I hold very dear to my heart because when I was a teenager, and I really struggled with what was going on inside my brain, I did not understand what was happening, I thought there was something seriously wrong with me.”

“I did not understand that anybody else could feel the same way I did, and it was very isolating, and very confusing. And when I Googled anxiety, Mind was the first website that came up,” she says.

“It was the first place I got support for my mental health.”

Despite admitting setting herself the high target of £10,000, the page has already raised more than £5,000. The video itself has already been watched 168,000 times.

With such a big following, we love that Zoe is using her voice to raise awareness of mental health, and remind people that if they are struggling, they’re not alone and help is available.

Happy Birthday Zoe!

To donate, visit Zoe’s JustGiving page, Birthday Fundraiser.

For more information on anxiety or to find a counsellor near you, visit Counselling Directory.