A glimmer of hope

It’s Mental Health Awareness Week and here support worker, Paul Stirling shows how sometimes it just takes a little organisation to help somebody to get back on their feet again.

Daniel* had a well paid job, owned his own home and was easily managing his money before his mental health deteriorated. Without realising what was happening, he experienced a psychotic episode and was admitted into a psychiatric hospital three times over the following months.

His life was turned upside down – he was unable to work and only had his employment sick pay to survive on which proved to be a massive struggle. He could just about afford to pay the mortgage and his bills but this meant that there was nothing left for food.
Daniel was terrified that he would lose his home and couldn’t see how he would ever get his life back to how it was before. He had no idea of the help that was available to him so when we began supporting him the first thing to do was to help him to apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Personal Independent Payments (PIP), a reduction in council tax payments and support with mortgage interest payments.

Over the coming months his financial situation became much more stable which helped Daniel to deal with his anxieties and worries. He began to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Getting on an even keel with money allowed him to think about moving forward with his life and he began to think about getting back into work. Encouraged to access the local volunteer centre, within a couple of months he was starting his first shift at a local charity shop.

With just a little support to help him to see a bit of hope Daniel’s life is on the up again. Six months from my initial meeting with him he no longer worries about losing his home and he has a regular income. Since helping Daniel to manage his money and encouraging him to take the road back to full time employment his confidence has grown and he now feels that he is contributing back to the community again.

*Name changed

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