One of the women behind a Newry-based mental health organisation has said that her own lived experience of suicidal and mental health crises allows her to help others going through the same thing.
"Looking back, I had my various conditions back at age 13, my first suicidal crisis was back then, that's how I know the age."But gradually I got my confidence up, put my hand up to be involved in a few more things and that led to becoming a volunteer where I got to be part of the actual work." "My life changed as a result of being able to do a job that gave me that way of taking the negative, horrible stuff in my life and turning it into a tool that helps others," she said.
"I'm now, not sure I want to say it, I'm coming 56 - my life has had a lot of darkness in it and this job allows me to be part of other people's journey and it gives me something to get out of bed for in the mornings, I absolutely love it." "But when you're sitting in front of someone who has been there, you only need to say a few words and they get it, you're not put through that journey of having to explain and relive all the difficulties.