Find out more about what we do by reading the stories of people involved with FDAMH!
Sharing your story can help others who are thinking about asking for help. If you’d like to share your story, please contact our Marketing & Community Engagement Team, community@fdamh.org.uk.
Emma, a pupil who had stopped attending school, was feeling low, anxious and angry.
She hadn’t been coping with school life and stress made her extremely upset. Emma had lost confidence and felt very anxious.
Following assessment, Emma started Cognitive Behavioural Counselling by phone. She established goals with the counsellor, and they worked together to help Emma identify triggers for her anxiety and to consider her thinking and how she coped when it arose.
Emma learned anxiety management skills, which she then applied to real life situations. Soon Emma returned to school, successfully using her new skills to overcome difficult moments.
Joe was struggling with depression, anxiety and stress when he came along to our Positive Wellbeing Course.
Joe attended every session, but he really noticed a big change after the session on self-care. Once he realised he’d stopped taking care of himself he started to turn that around.
As the course progressed Joe said he was communicating better with those he loved and his relationships improved. He re-discovered the pleasures of activities he’d given up when he wasn’t well and found enjoyment at work too.
By the end of the 8 weeks, Joe said he could feel a huge difference in himself and now he had the tools to manage better, he was ready to face the future.
“I love my volunteer role; it’s so rewarding to meet new people who come to the centre. Mental health issues can affect any age and group of people and in my role, it means I get to meet a wide range of people. No two weeks are ever the same, I enjoy what I do, and we have fun!”
“Volunteering with Social Spark is really interesting; I volunteer as part of the Creative Women’s Group. Seeing the difference the groups can make to people’s lives is amazing. Watching friendships grow and hearing that they have made friends and are meeting up outwith the group shows that the work that we are all doing is life-changing. It is a privilege to be part of the organisation.”
Following training…
“I feel more confident about my abilities to help in a voluntary capacity and feel more excited now that I am less anxious about it”.
