According to NHS England, five million people accessed mental health support in 2022/23: that’s an increase of more than a million in the last five years. This number isn’t helped by pressures such as the lasting effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis, so when Elizabeth’s (not her real name) mental health was deteriorating, prices were rising and she was getting further into debt, she knew she had to find help.
Elizabeth is a victim of childhood trauma and when she returned to work part time, following the birth of her daughter Amy, she started to experience a severe decline in her mental health. Elizabeth has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, depression and is currently being assessed for bipolar disorder. She was signed off work and received statutory sick pay, but this wasn’t enough to pay the bills and resulted in her getting into debt.
Elizabeth isn’t alone. Recent figures from the office of national statistics report that 59% of those who are economically inactive because of long-term sickness, experience depression. Sadly, Elizabeth didn’t receive the emotional support from friends and family she needed. In desperation, at one point, she even attempted to take her own life.
As a single parent, she knew things wouldn’t get better until she got on top of her finances, so she started searching the internet for a solution and found out about the BOSS Business Supplies Charity (BBSC). Having worked for two office furniture manufacturers in the past, she knew she might be eligible for support, so got in touch with the Charity. Her application for help was very quickly assessed and she was awarded a ‘one off’ grant to help with immediate bills to get the family back on its feet.
Another problem was that Elizabeth and her daughter were living in accommodation close to the location of Elizabeth’s childhood trauma ,which further impacted her mental health. With persistence, help from a housing manager at her local council, and a BOSS Charity grant for moving costs, the family have now moved to a house in a better area, which provides a safer environment for them to live in.
Having received four courses of mental health therapy, including cognitive behavioural therapy, since 2019, Elizabeth is beginning to make real progress. She now receives a regular quarterly payment from the BOSS Charity which she uses to pay for day-to-day living; it enables Amy, now seven years old, to continue with her dance lessons and keeps them up-to-date with gas and electricity bills.
Elizabeth said: “I was surprised how quickly the BOSS Charity helped me. The grant means that I can provide some stability for Amy, and this has made her the girl she is today. Without that help, I really don’t think I’d be here today. I keep in touch regularly with the Charity and the team has been so lovely and helpful.”
Elizabeth is looking forward to her health stabilising so that she can go back to work and have a career. If you know anyone who needs our help, please ask them to contact us.