Here, Lucy shares her journey of resilience and recovery as she navigates the challenges of severe depression and anxiety

Trigger Warning:  The following content discusses themes of suicide and self-harm, which may be triggering for some individuals. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out for urgent help,   or see the ‘Our help’ section of this website.

I was diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety in 1998, at 20, during my second year of university. The next three years were a haze of medication, partying, self-harm, and three overdoses. I just wanted the pain to go away. And I also thought that I was doing the best for my friends and family. By taking an overdose I was removing the problem from their lives. And I felt like one massive problem.

After my last overdose, I started seeing a new psychiatrist who supported me daily. Slowly, I began to rebuild my life. I eventually found a job, fell in love, got married, and started thinking about a family. My first pregnancy ended with a miscarriage, but a year later I gave birth to a little girl. She was perfect and I vowed that I would do everything I could to make sure she never felt the emotional pain that comes with a mental health problem.

Our daughter was so fantastic, that we decided to try for another child. I had a further three miscarriages while we waited for baby number two to make an appearance. When I gave birth to our wonderful son, my mental health was hanging on by a thread. I relapsed and was diagnosed with PTSD, chronic depression, and anxiety. I worked hard to recover once again and began to look to the future.

Inspired by my journey, I started a parenting and mental health blog to show that it’s possible to manage mental illness and still be a great parent. Once my children started school, I felt restless and decided to pursue a career. Soon, I landed a Marketing Officer role at West Kent Mind, a mental health charity. This job aligned perfectly with my skills and passions, providing structure, purpose, and a supportive environment.

West Kent Mind has been instrumental in my mental health recovery. It is the most supportive and compassionate organisation I’ve ever worked in. Over 70% of the staff have lived experience and you can feel that when you walk through the door. We’re all there for one purpose. To help our local community to get well, stay well and thrive with better mental health. It’s our vision. But it’s also our passion and our heart.

West Kent Mind touches the lives of many people in our local community. Our programmes, services and counselling transform the lives of those living and working in West Kent. But as an employee, working there has allowed me to grow beyond my roles as a wife and mother and has reaffirmed my passion for helping others improve their mental wellbeing. For that, I am incredibly grateful.