Mental health problems affect 1 in 4 people every year. With the help of our residents, we are hoping to break down the misconceptions surrounding mental health, autism and learning disabilities and give people hope that with the right support anyone can lead a fulfilling, happy and meaningful life. One of our residents from Grainger House wanted to share their mental health recovery journey and how the team have helped him. Here is Luke’s story in his words:
“Severe depressive episodes with psychotic syndromes.”
“Nearly three years, the end of this year.”
“(They) helped me search and enrol on a college course, I am doing a course that I have wanted to do for a while, an electrician course. There have been days when I have not wanted to turn up for the classes, due to my mental health, but they positively push for me to go and continue and I am now within my second year of the course.”
“As part of my college course, I have to do my maths qualification – I have had maths sessions previously set up by staff, to support me with my learning including a maths workbook that was made by a staff member to boost my knowledge of the subject.”
“I had requested a referral for a physical health concern, to gain more knowledge and understanding around the physical health diagnosis, it took well over a year to get the referral through but staff have helped me chase for updates, helped me with attending the appointment that was in London, they helped me build up confidence with travelling there and back and also gave me staff support to attend this appointment and other appointments which helped me with the anxiety of going on my own to them.”
“I had a few habits, one of them was taking illegal substances, staff helped me with a referral to Cranstoun through Sandwell Council, and this allows me to build more insight into staying away from those habits. Grainger has helped with coping strategies alongside my psychology session to stay away from repeating the habits.”
“Visual aid posters, I wake up on a morning and I have positive quotes that I look at that boost my morale, staff did these for me as a ‘go to’ to help maintain my low and deflated thoughts.”
“I get offered budgeting advice all the time, staff sit with me, they have made shopping lists with me, helped me go through my finances and bills and they also help me with my wages coming in and out to prioritise bills.”
“Staff have helped me to live healthier, they help me cook, understand nutrition and they help me with maintaining a balanced diet. Before when unwell, I wouldn’t have an understanding of this to the point where I put weight on. I go to the gym regularly now and it helps me with my motivation and self-improvement.”
“Yes, definitely.”
“Yes, college course for becoming an electrician.”
“I haven’t taken up volunteer opportunities, but Grainger House did provide me with links to local community centres that could help me get into volunteer positions. I mean I haven’t taken them on but I know they have been offered and promoted to me by Grainger”.
“Whenever I have been low on money and food, I have been provided with extra support from the local food bank by being supported with a voucher and supported to go there with staff, I have also given back to the local food bank as I supported staff to take a collection up to the local food bank. It’s not promoted to use a food bank and to budget instead, but at least they provide that option if needed.”
“Yes, definitely, before I came to Grainger House I didn’t feel like I had any hope or guidance, I didn’t feel like my life was leading anywhere, but since being at Grainger House and having that support I feel like my life has purpose, I am being supported to build up my socialising skills, communication skills, which I feel more confident in and it has given me the chance to make wise and good choices within my life.”
“I would recommend Grainger and Northern Healthcare, because it gives me and others a safe place, it takes off the pressure of everyday life because you have that support to fall back on until you build up the confidence to deal with it yourself, you get given time to reflect on bad choices that I have made but then you also get given the guidance to make better choices, they give you a ‘way’ forward which has and is continuing to help with my recovery journey.”
Find out more about Northern Healthcare supported living services and how our teams help people on their mental health recovery journey.
Please note names have been changed to protect confidentiality.
Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash
