Platform 51

mental health campaign

their stories

It’s hard for a woman to admit to herself - let alone anyone else - that she may be struggling with a mental health problem. Here you can read about just two, among the many thousands we work with every year, who were brave enough to tell their stories. We have changed their names to protect their identities.

http://www.platform51.org/whatwedo/ourwork/casestudies/nelisiwe

Nan

Nan, aged 67, has spent a lifetime battling low self-esteem, suicidal feelings and panic attacks. Abandoned by her mum, she had a difficult childhood and was brought up by her grandmother. Nan got married but it wasn’t what it should have been: “I couldn’t do anything right and he used to hit me. We had two little girls, and in one instance I remember he hit one of them and was going to hit her again, so I said ‘you’re not touching her’. He twisted my arm up my back so hard I thought he was going to break it.

“When the depression got really bad and turned once again to suicidal thoughts, I went to a doctor.  Because of this I have been on all sorts of medication for years. At the start I was put on valium and librium. It was murder, I felt terrible. My current doctor has been really good.  He’s prescribed some new antidepressants, and I am coping better. I could ask for more but I don’t want to, I’m trying to battle it. He talks to me, asks if I am OK and even holds my hand.  I am sure he understands depression.

“My suicidal thoughts (now I am getting help) are turning to anger which is why I have taken a course in anger management at Platform 51 because the strength inside scares me. Coming to the Platform 51 women’s centre has really helped because there are other people here who have been through different things. I am not on my own, you know, somebody else has been there.”

Sally

Sally, aged 20, told us: “I‘ve always had bad feelings about myself. I was constantly crying. I would drink a lot. When I was drunk I felt better about myself. But then I found I was getting more upset than I was without the drink.

“I used to hurt myself, too. I’d dig my fingernails into my hand. It felt natural. Like a relief.  Once my friend noticed me doing it, she yelled at me. She thought I was being stupid, she didn’t realise I was self-harming. I was controlling my eating as well. I used to try not to eat. I’d get up at six o’clock and exercise like mad in my room. But I was so hungry, I was snappy and nasty to everyone.  Yeah, I think there is a lot of pressure to conform to be like skinny celebs.

“At Platform 51 it feels like a family. You walk in and everyone’s nice to each other – there’s no discrimination or bullying. People just accept me for who I am. I can say what I want, be what I want without being judged. If I didn’t come to Platform 51 I’d probably be drinking too much and feeling worse than ever.”

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"I think it would have been much better for me if my GP had given me Platform 51 and not tablets" says Neli. Read her story.