From darkness to light: Simon overcomes suicidal thoughts to become voice for mental health charity

A Hampshire man who has faced mental health difficulties throughout his lifetime is using his experiences to help others in a similar situation.

Tuesday September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day.

Simon Eddy, from Portsmouth, is highlighting how being part of a lived experience participation panel with Solent Mind, the county’s largest mental health charity, has not only helped him but others as well.

The 48-year-old’s problems with depression started in his 20s at a time when the mental health support he needed just wasn’t available.

He said: “I suffered a traumatic experience as a teenager, which left me with feelings of an undue sense of responsibility and guilt that I couldn’t do more to protect my family during a physical assault.

“In a separate incident, I suffered a severe concussion and spent three weeks recovering in bed, something which is now known to be an incorrect recovery plan. I suffered feelings of confusion on my return to school and received no support.

“After that, I spent a great deal of my 20s suffering with severe depression and feelings of suicide, but just tried to press on with life as best I could, without assistance.”

Simon also suffered two minor Transient ischemic attack (TIA) strokes in his early 30s. The symptoms of these stroke-like attacks usually resolve within 24 hours but can be dangerous or life-threatening if untreated.

Simon said: “I think these TIA strokes may have exacerbated my difficulties with mental health and wellbeing. And with both my dad and aunt passing away, and my marriage breaking down, at a similar time, I was in a bad place.”

Without the support available, Simon felt alone and unable to cope.

Four years ago, after a severe decline in his mental health, he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and spent two months in St. James’ Hospital in Portsmouth.

He said: “It was a difficult time. I was confined to the wards and was trying to come to terms with what had happened to me.  I was diagnosed with psychosis and a possible delusional disorder and put on antipsychotic medication and antidepressants.

“After leaving hospital, I spent a night on the streets before I was placed in a B&B. I stayed there for six months. This was where I began my slow recovery.”

After a few moves, Simon found some stable and good-quality shared rental housing, and, for the following three years, he had weekly support with a nurse from the Early Intervention in Psychosis team at St Mary’s Hospital in Portsmouth.

He said: “It’s taken about four years to reach the point where my conditions improved, and I am now off the medication.

“Taking part in lived experience participation with Solent Mind has also helped to rebuild my shattered confidence.”

Simon now has his own company, which provides business consultancy, and does a lot of voluntary work and lived experience hours for Solent Mind, as well as the NHS.

Lived experience participation is how Solent Mind hears from people with mental health conditions to shape its work.

The charity knows that to meet its service users’ needs, it must work with them and ensure their opinions and ideas are valued. Simon shares his thoughts regularly.

He added: “Sitting on interview panels showed me that I can have an opinion which is valid, respected and appreciated and has rebuilt my sense of being involved in teamwork. It is also good to know that by sharing my story, I can help Solent Mind support others who might be struggling.”

Using his experiences to help others, Simon added: “I have become a voice for mental health lived experience, and I feel valued.

“No-one should have to suffer in silence and I’m glad that support is now available for people going through difficult times.”

Each year, World Suicide Prevention Day aims to focus attention on the issue of suicide. It wants to reduce stigma and raise awareness among organisations, governments, and the public, that suicides are preventable.

• www.solentmind.org.uk