AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016 - 121

M E N TA L H E A LT H ▲

THE FACTS and ﬁgures
Women are more likely to
be treated for a mental health
disorder than men.
10% of children have a mental
health condition at any one time.
The UK has one of the highest
rates of self-harm in Europe, at
400 per 100,000 population.
Nine out of 10 people with
mental health issues experience
stigma and discrimination.
If you need help, your GP will
refer you to a service for free.
For further information, visit
www.mind.org.uk; www.rethink.
org or www.harmless.org.uk
(Source: statistics from NHS)

to put on a brave face for the boys.
Something truly horrendous erupted
inside me, just as Ethan turned
six months old, and I had a major
depressive breakdown. I simply
stopped being able to function.
Ned called the GP and I was
swiftly treated as an outpatient under
the care of a hospital psychiatric
wing and the Mental Health Adult
Recovery Service. I was prescribed a
combination of medications within
two days and, crucially, put on a
long-term cognitive analytic therapy
programme (CAT).
This is intensive psychological
support with trained psychiatrists and
counsellors, and combines cognitive
psychotherapies to give patients
the skills needed to stop destructive
patterns themselves, alongside
traditional psychology. It took an
exhausting three months before the
fog lifted, but with Ned's support,
I slowly started feeling better. My
friends Sarah and Nina, my cousin
and two aunts were all rocks, too.
CAT is a wonderful programme
and I am a strong advocate. I started
the sessions with a grim view, but to
my astonishment, it's worked. I never
thought in a million years I could be
helped, but the NHS mental health
services truly saved my life.
I wouldn't wish depression or
mental illness on anyone. Ned and
I are stronger than ever, but our
relationship has been far from easy.
And now, despite the rocky road to
treatment, I'm ﬁnally in a position
to help others by raising awareness.
It's important to me, because of the
high number of suicides caused by
this condition, because I'm a mother
and because I work with teenagers.

There is no shame in being depressed,
and the stigma that goes with this
condition needs to be shattered.
Families, communities and the
government need to work harder to
support those who are vulnerable.
I cried when my mental health team
revealed that, for every hundred
people with a similar background to
mine, only two or three would be able
to live a full life away from a hospital
ward. That's just not good enough.

PAPERBACK WRITER

I'm aware that what I've gone through
is a drop in the ocean to what others
have experienced. Many struggle to
ﬁnd sympathetic support and will
spend a lifetime on medication. I'm
fortunate - the success of CAT means
I no longer take drugs.
And so, with my conﬁdence raised
and a clear mind for the ﬁrst time
ever, I sat down and wrote my novel,
Killing Hapless Ally, in 2013. I also
teach GCSE and A-level English,
blog, write poetry and campaign on
mental health issues.
I now enjoy going to lunch with
friends again, gossiping about
our favourite books and parenting
woes. It's normal, everyday stuﬀ
that many take for granted, but are
essential coping strategies for me.
Importantly, I don't think of suicide
as an option anymore. I'm able to
use the skills from CAT to help me
through periods of stress and anxiety.
Every day, I see my self-esteem raised
a little and that's such a blessing.
Killing Hapless Ally by Anna Vaught
(paperback, £10; ebook, £4.85)
is available at www.patrician
press.com and Amazon.co.uk

ANNA MET NED
DURING HER
TRIP TO INDIA

www.athomemagazine.co.uk AUGUST 2016 | 121
AtHomeWithLorraineKelly2016

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