Natalie’s Story

Some awful things happened to me when I was younger. I have had a lot of problems in my life and I have difficulty accepting myself. Sometimes the pain seems too much to bear and I want to jump off a cliff or harm myself. 

The Depression and Hope group has been wonderful for me. I am starting to feel safe there and to know that I am not alone in finding life hard. The facilitator has cared for me and a couple of times when I was not safe she got me to hospital so I would not die. One time, she asked two people from the group to come and take me to hospital so I didn’t have to pay for the ambulance later. One day when I was crying in the group so much that I couldn’t really talk, four people from the group called me afterwards. I felt so supported and not so alone. 

My dad was a strict Catholic and was very cruel so I have not been very interested in knowing about God. But some people with faith seem not to be cruel and I am grateful to know people are praying for me. 

*The name has been changed to protect confidentiality