real life stories
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Sally’s Story
"I have suffered with depression on and off since I was 18 but never felt I could talk about what I was going through, because I believed people would reject me if they knew. For years I struggled to cope with my illness and used all my energy to hide it from my friends, even my husband, because I didn’t want to upset them.
About five years ago things reached rock bottom for me. I was suffering another severe bout of depression, worse than the all others before and I had planned my suicide in meticulous detail. I had written a note and got everything in order but instead of taking my life, something made me phone Aware. Finally I was able to talk to someone and despite being in acute distress that afternoon, Aware got me to a calmer state of mind and arranged for me to go to hospital.
When I came home I went to my local Aware support group. At the group people talked freely about depression and I was listened to by people who truly understood my illness - this was the first time in my life I had had such support. From then on I didn't feel so isolated and on my own. Now I am well again and have returned to work. Ultimately Aware gave me back my life and my children’s life and that is why I try to help Aware bring depression out into the open and to get people talking about it without fear or shame.”
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Fundraising Volunteer - here's how!
Aware Defeat Depression is currently seekin...
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Suffering from depression? Don’t be afraid to talk about it. Help is available
Suffering from depression? Don’t be afraid to talk...
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Crisis support over Easter
Lifeline ...
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Aware Defeat Depression concerned as depression amongst adults in Northern Ireland is on the increase
The
Chief Executive of Aware Defeat Depression, S...
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World Mental Health Day 2012
We co-hosted two events for World Mental Health Day ...
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Have your Say: What is your experience of mental health treatment and care?
Mental health conditions are among the most common...
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Aware receives Investing in Volunteers Award!
Belfast’s City Hall resounded to applause as organis...
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Are you interested in learing more about self help or garden therapy?
We've introduced a new section to the 'Self Help' se...
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Samaritans and Facebook join forces to encourage support for friends who may be struggling to cope.
Samaritans has teamed up with Facebook to create a p...
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Think Parent, Think Child, Think Family Survey.
Mental Health and Children's Services - Tell us what...
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NI second-worst in mental health study
Northern Ireland's rates of mental health disorders ...
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Decreased Perception of Color in Depression
Is it true that the world looks gray when you are ...
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New study shows people with mental health problems receive inadequate medical care
New research led by the University of Leicester and ...
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Cognitive behavioral intervention helps prevent depression among at-risk teens
Adolescent-onset depression is strongly associated w...
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Nurses are assessing mothers with mental health issues despite lack of guidance and formal training
Researchers have raised serious concerns about the l...
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Mental health stigma hits relationships
A partner is four times more likely to leave you bec...
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Genetic link found between anxiety, depression and insomnia
WESTCHESTER, Ill. – The genes that play a role in ad...
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Study suggests mental illness link to parents
Children of bipolar parents have a 13-fold increased...
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