Could you help to rebuild a life?

When Karen went through a nervous breakdown, she became completely reliant on her husband and lost her self-confidence.

It was just after I turned 40. I remember taking a shower and then sitting for hours unable to get dressed, letting my hair dry in a tangle around me.

Days blurred into one and my husband ended up doing everything, looking after me like a baby. The breakdown came as a complete shock to those around me.

Karen had been able to go back into work part-time, but with limited support, she soon found she was unable to cope.

After contacting Mind, Karen enrolled onto a Healthy Minds course, which helped her to rebuild her self-esteem and develop techniques to manage stress and anxiety. Thanks to this support, Karen has been able to return to work and now volunteers with her local Mind helping others with their mental health. 

That day changed my life. The course was superb…. If you are in the right place to move on, it helps your confidence beyond belief. I have been so inspired by what Mind do. If I can help even one person through my own experience and what I can offer, then something good has come out of a bad situation.

Despite local services remaining under heavy demands, government spending cuts are forcing local services to reduce their hours and placing some under the threat of closure. 

It is scary to think that if I was unwell again now, there might not be any support available to help me.