Supporting multiple needs: overcoming anxiety
In Care and Support many of our service users are living with multiple support needs, and increasingly mental health support is something that we are called upon to provide.
Such was the case with Connor, who lived for a time at our homelessness support service, William Lyon Court in Loughborough.
Connor received the help and guidance he needed to learn essential skills, and gain the confidence he needed to move on to independent accommodation.
Connor explains in his own words: “I unexpectedly found myself homeless at the age of 24. I didn’t know what to do, but after getting in touch with the Council, William Lyon Court were the first people to reach out to me.
“The level of support I received right from the beginning was great. I suffer from anxiety and depression, but they treated me like an individual and let me do things at my own pace.
“I expected it to be like a hostel, but I had my own flat with a living room, kitchen and private bathroom. Having that sense of privacy was really important. I knew that it was only temporary accommodation, but it felt like my own place, which was a huge step in the right direction for me.
“I’ve always struggled opening up and talking to people, but the support workers were really patient and understanding. The experience of living there matured me and taught me a lot of really important life skills. When the process of getting my own flat in the area began, I felt confident and ready to move out.
“Now I live in my own apartment in a really nice area of town. I’m really close to one of my support workers, Brent. He was great at knowing when to talk to me and knowing when I just needed space. Because we’re similar ages, I felt comfortable talking to him about the issues I was having, and still talk to him regularly when I need help or advice. The support hasn’t stopped just because I’d moved out.
“Living at William Lyon Court, and receiving the support that was available to me there, was a really important step on my way to living independently. In the space of a year, I’ve gone from being homeless and in a really bad way to living in my own flat, and that wouldn’t have been the case without them.”
15-21 May is Mental Health Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being ‘anxiety’. The Mental Health Foundation are using this week to increase awareness and understanding of anxiety and provide information on the things people can do help prevent it becoming a mental health problem.
To find out more about the specific mental health support NCHA provides, visit our mental health web pages.
Connor shared his story as part of our 50th anniversary celebrations. You can read more customer stories on our NCHA at 50 pages.
