Katharine Hall (Co-Founder)

Copy of Katharine Hall    Hi my name is Katharine 

 

 

  

 

I became ill at 17 but I didn’t engage with services until I was 24. During these times I received both good and bad care. I accessed both the NHS day centre (Beamond Day Centre) and the drop-in day services at Mind.

 

I was originally given a diagnosis of Depression & Anxiety, which later became Borderline Personality Disorder.

 

Between 17 and 24, I worked for Royal Mail and saved up for a years career break to travel around the world. I went to eight different countries and had lots of great adventures.

After fighting a two year battle over the bad care I received from the Mental Health services, I went into the Complex Needs Service. I spent two years in the Therapeutic Community (TC), which completely changed my life and greatly improved the quality of it.

Since leaving the TC I have done lots of voluntary work, including work for STARS (for people who have left the TC), which has involved training of NHS staff and speaking at conferences. I am on three service user groups that are involved in making changes in Mental Health services. I am also involved with four groups for Paradigm Housing Association as a resident representative and also help run Mental Health awareness training for their staff.

Since leaving the TC I have noticed the changes in the Mental Health services. The Beamond Day Centre has been shut and nothing has been put in its place. Also the Mind day services are no longer an open door drop in but referral only.

Even though I am well on my way to a complete recovery, I still feel I could do with some level of support, but I have discovered there are no services available. The Mental Health teams only deal with crisis and can not offer any support after that.

So with Helen we set up Mind The Gap to try and provide some groups and services that are very much needed.