Don't suffer in silence, says Fleetwood woman with new mental health role

Helpline volunteer Vicky Nash is hoping her own dark struggles with illness can offer help to those at their lowest point.
Vicky Nash is promoting the work of charity SOS Silence of SuicideVicky Nash is promoting the work of charity SOS Silence of Suicide
Vicky Nash is promoting the work of charity SOS Silence of Suicide

Vicky, 33, from Fleetwood, has a condition which causes her to be hooked up to a drip for days on end and admits that in her bleakest moments, she contemplated whether it was worth going on.

She is helping out with charity SOS Silence of Suicide and is keen to let people know that help is out there for those who have lost hope - or those with loved ones who took their own lives.

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The coronavirus lockdown has led to a significant rise in mental health problems, with people struggling for many different reasons, but they don't always know where to turn when they feel unable to go on.

Vicky said: "I also have had some close friends who have taken their own lives and it is devastating for everyone involved.

"I really feel for people can't face the way they are feeling and don't see any way out.

"But there is help out there, people don't have to suffer in silence."

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The charity also runs an online chatline as well as the seven-days-a-week helpline.

Vicky's own mental wellbeing has been severely tested by PoTS - postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, a debilitating and long-term condition causing fainting, headaches, nausea and palpitations when sufferers move from the lying down to standing position.

Just standing up can often cause her heart to race to dangerously abnormal levels in a matter of seconds - up to 140 to 150 beats per minute (bpm) when the average rate is between 60 and 80 bpm.

To compound these problems, Vicky also has another condition, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome , which causes her to have trouble swallowing and she requires a drip feed to ensure she gets sufficient nutrition.

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She once ran her own business but as her health declined she hit rock bottom, unable to do basic tasks she once took for granted.

Vicky, who lives on Quayside, Fleetwood, with her supportive partner, Dave Robinson said: "I think a lot of people who have very serious health issues which change their lives have contemplated whether it is worth going on, at some point.

"I know I did because i couldn't see a way out and it seemed pointless. I couldn't live a normal life."

Vicky's situation has improved to a degree because she now has a health team which is able to offer key support, but she still has to live with her debilitating conditions.

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Despite the problems, she tries to stay busy and helps out with online merchandising for the charity PoTS UK - and is now set to start volunteering for SOS, for two nights a week.

She says : "People have mental health problems for all sort of reasons and sometimes no one knows they are struggling.

"SOS has been running for years, it's a registered charity, but it isn't that well known.

"Before lockdown they were able to hold group sessions to offer face to face support, but this is one of the problems with lockdown - people can't meet up like they used to.

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"But there is the helpline and also an online chat service so it can continue to support people during lockdown."

The SOS Silence of Suicide helpline is at 0300 102 0505. Phone lines are open until midnight, seven days a week.

For anyone struggling to even pick up the phone then online chat is available on the website at https://www.sossilenceofsuicide.org

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