CASE STUDY - Support helped provide a positive future

Mental Health

DAN Connally, aged 33, from Oldham, received care at Heathfield House, a step-down mental health unit in Stockport which provides 24-hour care and support to men aged 18 to 65.

After years of spiralling mental health problems, substance misuse and reluctance to engage with services, as well as several attempts to take his own life, Dan was admitted to Heathfield House in March 2016.

His recovery has come on in leaps and bounds, thanks to the support, care and the wide range of activities offered at the unit.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2017, Dan has shared his story to reassure others who are experiencing similar issues that support is available to help them recover and to encourage them to look towards a positive future.

"The first time I was put on the acute wards I was brought in by the police and was there for two weeks. I wasn't accepting the help. I was going into the acute wards and still taking drugs. I was too naïve and scared deep down.

"I recognise that my coping style at the time was not talking about it, blocking it away. All these thoughts and emotions I just didn't deal with it.

"It started off with depression. I didn't tell anyone. I used to block all these feelings away. I didn't want to burden anyone.

"I used to have a book and write things down. I used to write down lots of mad stuff, things like thoughts and feelings I was having at the time. I used to write things in there like 'I wish I could go back to the Philippines'.

"I didn't tell people because I didn't think people bothered. Everyone was like trying to get on with their lives. No one really talked about what happened out there. It was all just brushed under the carpet.

"There was the belief that I messed up again. I'd lost everything. For years I didn't care. Even passion for music and football. I felt I'd lost everything. I just turned to hanging around with the wrong people and all I wanted to do really was just get drunk to block everything out.

"I just ignored every feeling I had. I started getting in trouble with the police. I had to do community service. I had to see probation and I was on a tag. As this was going on I was doing little stints in hospital (acute wards in Oldham). I think if I would have opened up my mouth earlier I would have got the help then.

"I got sent to a private hospital in Wales for nine months. I did well here and got off my section. I got away from things and I could just concentrate on myself but I wasn't really looking to the future, just focusing on normal day-to-day stuff.

"From here I was made informal then went to live at Birchwood. After a few days here I started going to the pubs again, going out with people and meeting friends. I started using cocaine and amphetamines. Deep down I wasn't happy with my life and what was going on around me.

"After about 10 years of being in and out of hospital, my head just went big time. I'd been on drug binges and had lack of sleep.

"My dad died about a year before this happened. I had a few days where I went really paranoid. I wasn't in touch with reality and started thinking mad stuff. I had been on every medication going.

"When I was in hostels I just did nothing. I got put on a Community Treatment Order, but didn't like the injections I was on so I was recalled back to hospital to change my medication. This was no life for me. My mental state wasn't right. I was on the acute ward from November 2015 to March 2016 and then came to Heathfield House.

"My mindset was different this time. I felt optimistic about coming to Heathfield House.

"I have no regrets. I used to have lots of guilt but now I don't. I want to make myself and my family proud. My dad told me he was proud of me. He said this the last time I spoke to him.

"I really want to work in mental health and get more insight. I like to listen to people's stories and help people. I can use my own experience and get them to open up and understand it, so they can lead a better life.

"In my life I've had 10 years of doing nothing. If things had been different I wouldn't be sat here now. All this has helped me. It makes me tougher.

"If you come to Heathfield House or other units like this take full advantage of what is on offer.

"I've been involved in lots of projects with staff. I've been involved in assessing other units. We've been assessing everything from the food, rooms, how they do the observations, how staff interact with the service users.

"I am also co-writing courses on the living with psychosis and drug and alcohol courses with the Health and Wellbeing College.

"I've talked at Salford University to first year occupational therapy students about mental health difficulties. I was part of a question and answer session.

"My advice to others in a similar situation is don't give up - accept your own flaws, no one is perfect. Try and learn and speak to people such as your friends, family and professionals."