At 19 years old, Annie never imagined she would spend months in hospital, be without a home and believe there was no future worth looking forward to. 

“Last year was without a doubt the hardest year of my life, I was at the lowest point I had ever been.” she says. “I'd spent the majority of the year in hospital because of both my physical and mental health. I was struggling every single day and everything felt overwhelming.”

Alongside managing severe mental and physical health conditions, Annie became homeless. Without somewhere safe and stable to live, recovering felt impossible. “I genuinely did not see a purpose in my life,” she recalls. “I felt like I had completely lost control of my life. I honestly believed things would never get better.” 

For many young people leaving hospital, finding the right support can be difficult. Housing, mental health, physical health and financial worries rarely exist in isolation, yet services are often designed to address just one challenge at a time. 

That's where Lancashire Mind's supported housing service made all the difference. The service provides accommodation and help for people experiencing poor mental health that may need short to medium term support to remain well and return to independent living. 

After being referred to the service in late 2025, Annie met the team to talk about what she needed. The very next day she was viewing an apartment. Just a couple of weeks later, she had somewhere she could finally call home. 

Her Housing Officer, Kelly, visited every week, helping Annie settle into her new home, build confidence, navigate everyday challenges and, most importantly, know she didn't have to face them alone. 

They helped me, knowing I had somebody to talk to allowed me to improve my confidence.

“The regular weekly visits from Kelly helped me massively,” Annie says. “Her visits gave me structure to my week. They helped me knowing I had somebody to talk to about anything and allowed me to improve my confidence and independence of living alone - without having to take it all on alone.”

Looking back, Annie says the biggest difference Lancashire Mind made was helping her feel safe enough to begin rebuilding her life. “Being with Lancashire Mind has really helped me feel more safe and settled because I finally have my own space. But I don't feel completely alone because I have all the support around me. I know that I'm never alone.”

Week by week, that support helped Annie regain confidence, establish a routine and take control of everyday life. 

“I've grown a lot of independence, and I feel like I'm in control of my life now,” she says. “I have a routine and my daily life is a lot better. I feel so settled. I feel like I'm on the right path with my mental health now. This is the most supported I've ever felt.” 

Annie recently reached another milestone that once felt unimaginable. “I am proud to say I am one whole year suicide attempt free and I couldn't have done this without Lancashire Mind.” 

I really don't know where I would be today if Lancashire Mind didn't exist.

“I genuinely don't know what I would have done, and I really don't know where I would be today if Lancashire Mind didn't exist,” she says. “Thank you for saving my life and for giving me the chance to have a better future.” 

Watching Annie grow has been a real source of pride for Housing Officer Kelly, “Her resilience to what she went through is remarkable. I can say now with confidence she is thriving on her own and able to manage a lot of things herself. To see Annie flourish like she has makes me feel incredibly proud of the work that Lancashire Mind does, as well as feeling proud to see her grow like she has.” 

Today, Annie shares her story because she hopes it will remind someone else that, no matter how difficult life feels, the right support can make all the difference. 

“I hope my story can help someone else who may be going through something similar to what I experienced and show them that there is hope and things really can get better.”