“I have dealt with anxiety since a young age, along with severe depression. I attempted suicide at the age of 14. When I was very stressed out I would hear voices whisper angrily to me. I even had hallucinations on a number of occasions and always experienced a sense of paranoia.  Despite all this, I managed to attend school, make some friends, and maintain a close relationship with my family.

Unfortunately, when I turned 17, life became overwhelming, and I shut down. I left school, isolated myself from my family, stopped talking to friends, and withdrew from the world. For 18 months, I remained confined to my home, spiralling deeper into despair, constantly contemplating death and suicide. My mother did everything she could to find suitable psychosocial support services, tirelessly searching for options.

Eventually, I discovered a service I was eligible for. I didn't need a formal diagnosis, we could refer ourselves, and they collected me from my home to engage with the community.

This service was PHaMS, and it changed my life.

Here's how it worked: A Personal Helper and Mentor met with me weekly, helping me develop a Wellness Recovery Action Plan. They worked at my pace, asked thought-provoking questions, assisted me in leaving my house, accommodated my abilities, and opened doors to new possibilities.

Through PHaMS, I defined what recovery meant to me, learned to cook healthy meals on a budget, connected with peers facing similar challenges, gained self-advocacy skills, and discovered my own strengths.

During a group outing, a PHaMS worker approached me and said, "Hey, I noticed you interacting with one of the participants, and I think you have the potential to be a great mental health worker. Maybe you could pursue that path one day."

That simple statement planted a seed of hope.

Eventually, I did become a mental health worker, and now I even deliver training to other mental health workers, teaching them about strengths-based practice, just as I experienced in PHaMS.

Without PHaMS, I wouldn't have left my house, repaired relationships with my family, or found employment in the mental health field. Without PHaMS, I would not be alive today.