A documentary is hitting television screens tonight featuring an adventurous Old Monmothian, who will discuss how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted on mental health.
Richard Parks has made a new documentary for ITV Cymru Wales, called Richard Parks: Climbing out of Lockdown, with the help of friends and senior Welsh public figures.
The former Monmouth School for Boys’ student is a former Welsh rugby international who played for Pontypridd, Leeds and the Dragons.
Richard took the decision to make a documentary, examining the role the pandemic and its successive lockdowns have played in people’s mental health.
It was a personal project that was inspired by Richard’s own struggles over the last two years.
During the programme, Richard talks to friends and contributors, including a primary school headteacher, fellow Welsh international Non Evans MBE, singer and presenter Wynne Evans, and former Economy Minister for Wales, Ken Skates MS.
He also revisits Dr Mikel Mellick, a sports psychologist at Cardiff Met University, throughout the film to try to make sense of what he’s learned in each conversation.
In 2011, Richard set a new world record and became the first person to climb the highest mountain on each of the world’s continents, as well as reaching both the South Pole and North Pole, in a calendar year.
In 2020, he set two further world records, as he notched up the most journeys and greatest distance skied solo, unsupported and unassisted in Antarctica, some 2,229 miles.
Then, in March 2020, lockdown meant Richard’s life ground to a halt.
“I went into lockdown as a world record-holding athlete and by 2021, I had de-trained more than I’d ever de-trained in my life,” he said.
“I’ve really struggled with that, alongside the challenges that lockdown presented us all. That compounded the challenge to my identity, thinking all of a sudden ‘Who am I?’
“I thought to myself, what am I going to do now? What world are we going to emerge into?”
Richard Parks: Climbing out of Lockdown is being screened on ITV Cymru Wales tonight from 8pm to 9pm.