Weekly Articles

Hughie’s Story

Something to give you some Christmas cheer – this from ex-YMCA resident Hughie

“I came in here broken, starving and cold. I had my struggles to begin with and then one day I decided to ask for help. I sought out help in the Bible studies and the groups. I kept asking for help and things fell into place. I’ve now moved out into my own place and I’m doing well. I’m looking forward to coming back and serving dinner over Christmas and hopefully be an example of what can happen when you choose to accept the help that’s on offer.

You can come into here (the YMCA) and resist the help and continue to go down the hole of addiction and struggle. Or you can ask for help and succeed. YMCA saved my life and saved me from me.”

Hughie

Leon’s Story

Read YMCA resident Leon’s inspiring story which demonstrates how high quality supported housing and good mental health support can make a big difference to someone’s life and their recovery

I was in Hospital mental health unit because had breakdown and attempted suicide. Was there quite a while, because of that I was homeless because the staff in the mental health unit said I could only come out once improved, and I had to go into supported accommodation, the Dorset Health care liaison manger interviewed me to assess. I came to see the flat and met my now keyworker, I was classed as high risk at the time. I had to come with the nurse and had a housing assessment for the YMCA.

At first coming to the YMCA was frightening for me, when I first came to the YMCA, we wrote a “my crisis“ plan and I liked how everybody worked to it. Leon said that we kept him safe. It was very stressful coming to less secure building than I was before, I was struggling with self-harming, The YMCA understood that I was trying to stop it but if I did self-harm it was ok. I realised I didn’t have to hide my feelings and emotions anymore, nobody thought that anything was wrong as I wore a mask. Inside I was falling apart, distressed suicidal, I realised I could speak to my key worker the same way as nurses, that was a massive relief as I was not judged.

Once I was settled in an aim to move on maybe to help to reach groups we established, the gym manager introduced me to the then reach worker. Becoming a peer specialist was Prompted in hospital, my key worker even went on one of the training courses with me, it gave senses of what I was aiming for a goal to aim for and achieve. This open up the doors to start speaking to people outside. It opened the door to move to a flat towards my independence. I still felt so safe because I ha access to staff 24hours a day and this was comfort to me like a massive safety net, it was a massive comfort.
Where I got involved with the Reach (social group) to be a volunteer peer specialist I got involved in Dorset Mental Health Forum, an in their social meetings as well as the pool group which are sadly not on at the moment. There are plans for to more involved once things are back to normal.

My recovery to mental health is Immensely important to me, it is huge. Mental health covers such a big spectrum, how it affects an individual varies , no single person is the same. You have got to look to personal wellbeing, what suits them, finding something what wellbeing suits that person it keeps the person safe. Recently I Supported a fellow group member in a crisis. Knowing that there is someone to call that understands what they are going through too, keeps them safe, then I signpost to right group to speak with. A sense of community.

I need to keep up with my wellbeing and the crisis plan is key to that. The whole team in housing know what to do because of My Crisis Plan, I need to stick to that plan as it could end up with me trying to end my life, or self-harming regularly, I have blips but the blips help me understand and learn about my-self. If hadn’t of followed all the advice I would have taken my own life.

Leon Volunteers for the Dorset Mental Health Forum http://www.dorsetmentalhealthforum.org.uk/