A woman whose life spiralled out of control following a relationship breakdown has credited a Nottingham charity with helping her through one of the toughest times of her life. 36-year-old Laura-Jayne Lee lives in Mapperley is currently studying health and social care to become a youth worker, but life hasn't always been so good.
In 2021, Laura found her mental health declining and ended up in Highbury Vale Hospital for three weeks. “I injured myself last year and was just really nervous and anxious," she said. “I have anxiety and panic attacks and last year, I had a psychotic episode. To deal with this, I turned to alcohol.”
Laura said the break-up of her relationship was difficult to deal with. “I had issues with my ex-partner," she said. "Sometimes, relationship issues are worse than losing someone. I was on antidepressants but they were counteracted by my drinking.”
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After Laura’s time in hospital, she was happy to receive help from charity Improving Lives who got in touch with her. The charity specialises in supporting adults with complex health and social needs and is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
Improving Lives help adults with IT skills, finances and have counselling services and is based at the International Community Centre on Mansfield Road. It also organises activities to combat loneliness.
Since the charity was formed, hundreds of people have been helped and Laura said she was really happy to have been one of them. “I had just come out of Highbury Vale and Improving Lives got in touch," she said. “I started meeting with my support worker for walks in the park and coffee and I found it really helpful. I was dead depressed and my support worker is still really supportive."
Now after six weeks of support that ended in January 2022, Laura still has occasional contact with a support worker. Without Improving Lives' support, Laura fears that she’d still be in a dark place. She said: “If it wasn’t for Improving Lives, I’d still be in a slump. My support worker has helped loads. I enjoy playing pool at Riley’s [one of the venues where a support group is held.]”
Laura has urged other people to seek out services if they feel they are struggling. “There’s support out there its just hard to find it, you have to ask the council what’s available to them in your area," she said. “There’s more stuff in town but not in different areas.”
She hopes to help others by becoming a youth worker and is currently studying a course at CT Skills Nottingham. She said: “I can definitely relate to young people about addiction and homelessness and I know about the law. I can signpost them to different areas. It’s all good having qualifications but with helping people, it’s good to have experience too.”
Laura spoke about spotting the signs of someone who is distressed and needs help. She listed physical appearance, being overly aggressive, bruising and being withdrawn as being some factors.
She said it's important to pay attention to others. “I feel loads better now," she said. "In 2020, I was smashing it doing courses and not drinking. I was doing all the right things but I was depressed and I was sitting in silence. 2021 was the lowest I’ve ever been but now, I’m doing so well when I thought I could never get out of it. Improving Lives bring you out of your shell and boost your confidence.”
Eddie Keon is an art teacher at Improving Lives and has volunteered there for five years. He holds a class there once a month and spoke of the benefits of using art to help improve people’s mental health.
Eddie said: “The class is packed and fully booked. Art for me, is for everyone. I feel that people with mental health issues need to have a chance to create art. After two hours, people have a big smile on their face. Many people tell me that they’ve never held a pencil in their life and then, they’re beaming. Personally, my joy is when they’re full of joy.”
As a child, Eddie enjoyed helping people too. He continued and said: “When I was a kid, I wanted to help people. For me, volunteering is in my skin and I thank my parents for that. It makes me feel good.”
