Co Fermanagh woman opens up on mental health struggle as she hopes MLAs take action
A Co Fermanagh woman has spoken out about her experiences with mental health in the hope that it gives a real-life example which may spur MLAs on to take action to combat the illness.
Having grown up in the care system, Vicky said that she had a hard childhood but around the age of 12, she met a carer who took her in and changed her life around.
When her carer passed away while Vicky was a young adult, this led to her to hit what she has described as a "breaking point" in her life which resulted in her being hospitalised after suffering psychosis.
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Vicky was admitted to hospital on a number of occasions over a three-year period and had made plans to end her life before she was referred to Action Mental Health.
Speaking to Belfast Live about her experience, she said that she hopes that by speaking out, it will help end the stigma around poor mental health.
"A fter being an inpatient and suffering really severe mental health problems for a few years, I was referred to a psychologist. Upon that ending, she said to me that she was going to refer me to Action Mental Health because she thought I needed a bit more support," she said.
"I stepped into the building on my first day at the service, crying and struggling to breathe. My house had been my safe environment for so long, it was so scary to be out alone. But Kathryn from Action Mental Health found me sitting in reception. 'I’m having a bad day today, too,' she told me. 'I get where you’re coming from. Shall we have a cup of tea?' She helped me feel seen, not as a patient, but as a person.
"Kathryn helped me take things not just one day at a time but one minute at a time, and this is something I still do now when I feel overwhelmed. And after a few visits, a lot of minutes, and a lot more tea, I decided I was ready to try some of the programs Action Mental Health offers."
Vicky completed an assertiveness course before going on to study history with the charity and said that she loved it as it made her feel clever.
"I had real big suicidal ideas, but being involved in the classes at the time, I didn't realise it took that away because it gave me some sort of purpose, some sort of focus."
Vicky was speaking out as Action Mental Health launched their I AM SOMEONE campaign at Stormont on Wednesday. The photographic exhibition will be on display in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings for the next two weeks in a bid to highlight the stories behind the statistics which show that o ne in five adults in Northern Ireland will experience mental ill-health and one in eight children will face emotional difficulties.
"I would like to think of myself as a bit of an advocate for Action Mental Health in my community," she continued.
"If people are suffering from their mental health, because I have been so transparent about it, a lot of people would come to me.
"I always say to them, speak to Kathryn at Action Mental Health in Enniskillen, go and see her and she will sort you out one way or another.
"The service is a self-referral now. It never used to be, so just go, have a go at it and find that support."
If you have been affected by any of the issues discussed in this story, you can contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
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