Post by Lancashire & South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

“If it wasn’t for Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, I wouldn’t be here.” Based in the Occupational Therapy Team at one of our hospitals, Rachel Pearson credits the Trust she now works for, for saving her life. Rachel is sharing her story this World Mental Health Day, to inspire people to be open and seek mental health support should they need it, and to highlight the importance of talking about mental health both in and out of the workplace. At just 13 and following a number of traumatic incidents in her childhood, Rachel began self-harming. Rachel explained: “Back then I was so young and really didn’t have any coping skills, so I remember thinking that doing that helped. Of course it didn’t and it doesn’t. I’d urge anyone now to realise help is available, speak up, help is available. “Messages about not being good enough peppered my childhood. My self-esteem and confidence were low as a result and my mental health decline was a slow burn.” By her mid-20s Rachel was diagnosed with a personality disorder. Rachel explains: “I did okay at school, but by sixth form my mental health really took a nosedive. There were times when I had months off because I developed social anxiety.” That pattern continued, and Rachel started hearing voices and seeing figures. At 25, she was having suicidal thoughts daily and she was admitted into the care of the Trust. Rachel says: “There were some serious incidents of self-harm, anxiety and depression and I was diagnosed as bipolar before the psychiatrist changed the diagnosis to a personality disorder. Rachel credits a two year life skills course prescribed by The Trust for changing her life for the better. “I gained the confidence to volunteer. I eventually volunteered in occupational therapy, loved it, and I’m now working two days a week with people in Guild Lodge while training at university to become a qualified occupational therapist. “I’m so much better now, I am well, happily married and now I’m helping people with their mental health with my job. It’s so true to say that without LSCft I would not be alive. “My tips are, access therapy, be patient and know there is hope and we can help.”