Ian's story

Ian, age 52, Sunderland

“I’ve had a lot of health problems in the past including heart attacks and cancer. I’ve had to be awake during some traumatic operations and have often not felt listened to by doctors. This has left me with a lot of anxiety about my health, every time I have a headache it’s a brain tumour. I never really talked about how I was feeling with anyone even though I have an amazing wife and lots of friends I didn’t feel I could tell them what was happening , I was a typical man and masked it. The feelings were getting worse and worse. I just couldn’t handle them anymore and I made an attempt on my life. Luckily I had sent a text to my sister beforehand and she contacted the police who took me to hospital. I spoke to the crisis team who told me about James’ Place and two days later I was sat in front of my amazing therapist in their Newcastle centre. We got on like a house on fire. I saw her twice in the first week following my attempt and twice the second week, then went down to once a week.

I looked forward to going to James’ Place, my wife would come with me to the appointments, she loved sitting in the waiting area with a coffee, and then on the way home I’d tell her what I spoke about. I told my therapist everything in my head and just getting all the bad stuff out there helped me get some of it out of my mind, and made it easier to explain to others too. Now I’m much better at talking to my family and friends. I tell everyone about James’ Place and I’m doing a fundraiser for them. I don’t want anyone to feel the way I did and not get help.”

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