Julie’s story

Julie had a previous career as a dental nurse, which she left to care for her parents. When they passed away she lost the property they were living in and her mental health and wellbeing went into decline. She started to have episodes of psychosis and became dependent on alcohol, drinking two bottles of wine a night.

Julie was admitted to hospital for her mental health and was a patient for four months. She was released with no fixed abode and ended up in unsuitable housing that had no cooking facilities, cost too much and was far away from friends and family, making her feel isolated.

When she was referred to Healthy Futures Julie moved into a shared house close to her support network. We have supported Julie to apply for benefits, register with her local GP and build her independence.

A key barrier for Julie was her low self-esteem. She was very anxious and cautious about meeting new people, and was reluctant to leave the house and go out on errands. Since being with Healthy Futures, Julie is slowly becoming more able to engage with people and is getting on well with her fellow housemates. She is being encouraged to look for a part time job or volunteer work, which will further help build her confidence and prepare her for independent living.