A woman has used her own experiences of mental health to create a safe space for others who are struggling.
Sheila Byrne set up Hope Street in 2018 with her husband after she felt like there was nowhere for her to turn for support following a nervous breakdown.
The 54-year-old volunteer told the ECHO: “I set up Hope Street so nobody would reach the place of despair that I reached.
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“The breakdown left me unable to do anything for myself, I was unable to leave the house and was pretty much incapacitated due to my illness.
“I relied on my husband to do everything for me. My memory was worsened by my mental health and it made me not go anywhere unaided for about three years.”
Sheila felt suicidal and her struggle prompted her husband, Dominic, 43, to take matters into his own hands and set up a support group in Ormskirk.
Dominic said: “When Sheila had her breakdown, I went into autopilot. Although having always been empathetic I had no real understanding of mental health and just tried to get through each day with Sheila, suddenly going from husband to carer, two completely different roles.
“I took on every role from helping Sheila shower, drying her hair, making sure Sheila took her medication, at times helping her walk just from room to room and doing anything I could to try and put a smile back on her face."
He added: “Knowing it’s hard for many people to see the positives, I wanted to create an environment where people could hear the stories of others and be inspired, to have their own thoughts validated by those who have been in the same position.”
Hope Street, which hopes to receive charity status in the near future, holds weekly meetings at the Civic Hall in Ormskirk, with the aim of breaking the stigma attached to mental health, particularly anxiety and depression.
The meetings are delivered by a team of professionals including a mental health nurse, a teacher and a life coach.
One of their most popular sessions is their LGBTQ+ night every Monday between 6:30pm and 7:30pm.
While the sessions act as a gateway for members to meet others from the same community, they also teach attendees the importance of LGBTQ+ history, something that 18-year-old Jess Hughes and her girlfriend, Sarah Walker, both find beneficial.
Jess told the ECHO she visited Hope Street after wanting to make more friends and now having done that she wants to act as a role model for youngsters questioning their sexuality.
The A-Level student said: “Growing up for me, there wasn’t that much in the media that I saw I could relate to. In terms of real life, I didn’t meet another gay person until I was around 13.
“I thought I would be able to help other people as well, because I know if I was a few years younger I would have liked to see a couple who were out and happy."
On one occasion, Jess and her girlfriend, Sarah, were subjected to homophobic abuse by a group of teenagers after they were seen kissing. Jess claimed the group began taunting them before proceeding to throw stones in their direction.
At the time, it left the couple feeling unsafe, especially as it had happened in a town where they spent a lot of their time.
Thankfully, Jess said she feels better knowing she has Hope Street as a safe space to go to.
Sarah agreed, adding: “I think it’s immensely important that there is a space like this. Growing up in a quiet area without many people my age, it’s lovely for people who aren’t out yet to have a space where they can be themselves.
"I can see myself becoming really good friends with the other members of the community since we all have shared a similar experience."
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