Damien's story

Damien shares his experience of a suicidal crisis last year.

“I experienced a suicidal crisis at the end of summer. It was a whole heap of things came on top of me, from memories of my difficult childhood, to the fact that I couldn’t find a job after I was made redundant. It’s been a hard few years, we lost five members of the family to Covid, I spent a lot of time on my own and in my own head. I was in a really bad place and was thinking of ways to end my life. I’ve been suicidal before and ended up in the hospital but this time I went to my GP who sent me to James’ Place. I though it’s got to be better than where I’m at so I decided to go. From the minute I arrived I thought this is going to be the right place, everyone was really nice, I liked the fact it wasn’t part of the system and wasn’t reporting back to anyone. I felt safe.”

“My therapist Naz helped me to understand that I tend to help others with their problems but I don’t really talk about my own. She helped me see that I set the bar really high for myself in raising my two boys because of my own childhood, I was determined to be a good dad to my kids as I was in and out of care, my mum and dad had a lot of problems, I lived on the street for a bit. I saw a lot of people around me take the wrong path and end up in jail or whatever and I didn’t want to be that way.  I put myself under a lot of pressure, but my kids are great and doing really well in life and at school so maybe I don’t need to worry so much. Naz helped me to understand that I didn’t just have to grin and bear what had happened to me, and that I likely had PTSD from those experiences when I was a kid. She really validated my feelings which helped me open up straight away with no fear of being judged. I felt really listened to.

Talking about everything that’s happened to me for the first time has helped me so much. Since leaving James’ Place I don’t feel so isolated, and I feel more in control. If I start to have bad thoughts or bad days I know I can change my mood by getting up and doing something, and I know James’ Place is there if I need help again. Thanks to them I am still here to raise my two beautiful, brilliant boys – I realise I am doing something right every time I look at them. I want to show them that it’s better to talk about things rather than covering it up, as that’s where my trouble started.”

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