How Youth Talk help transform lives
Sadly, at Youth Talk we see young people struggling with a range of mental health issues – every one of them with a different recovery journey.
This is the story of a young person – let’s call him Liam – who came to Youth Talk for help after a long history of struggling with his mental health.
His counsellor helped him understand his emotions and come to terms with his past traumas.
Liam’s Story
Liam came to Youth Talk, aged 21, having been at university, “knowing” that he had to talk things through in order to help him get on in the world.
His early life experiences had been traumatic.
He suffered neglect from his mother who was struggling to cope. She was drinking, depressed and not complying with her prescribed medication. She was also absent physically and emotionally, and as a toddler Liam learnt to cook and feed himself.
After his parents separated Liam spent weekends with his sister at his dad’s house, where he suffered physical abuse, verbal abuse and loneliness.
Initially, it was hard for Liam to put his past into words in front of a stranger. He couldn’t talk about the depression he’d suffered or the self-harm he’d regularly inflicted in the past to cope.
Over time, Liam grew to trust the confidentiality of the counselling setting as a safe space. He began to accept his feelings of anger, attend to the needs of the deprived, frightened little boy who grieved for the parenting he did not have.
He used to struggle with living: the world was somewhere he did not want to be and he felt bleak and helpless – cut off from emotions and people.
Liam is now moving on with his life and achieving things he never thought he would, and doing things he didn’t know he even wanted to do!
Liam is ready and motivated to look forward. Taking an active role in his own life and focusing on what he can get out of living rather than feeling desperately stuck and focused on what life cannot offer him.
Because of Youth Talk, Liam can think about his future and smile.
Will you be a part of it?
Our Chief Executive, David Barker said:
“For the first time in the charity’s history the waiting list topped 100 young people waiting for crucial mental health support. When a young person is brave enough to ask for help they shouldn’t be kept waiting.”
As part of our five-year strategy we’re aiming to provide support for 20% more young people every year.
With an increase from four to eight therapy rooms, our new home on 64 London Road provides us with the space we need to offer more local young people the help they desperately need and deserve.
Our work is made possible with the support of our community. We need your help to ensure that local young people can access confidential one to one counselling free of charge.
Mental Health Awareness Week
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