In the 21st century we are constantly flooded with news of the failures of the NHS. It is very rare that we get to hear about any positives of the service and it is becoming increasingly common that certain sectors are over looked. One area that I believe do not receive enough credit for the amazing work they do is the UK’s mental health team. Thousands of people have found solace, hope and happiness through the support of practioners. Many have been able to fight back against disorders and regain their lives, which were lost to mental health illnesses, all with the help of professionals.

        My own personal journey with Anorexia Nervosa is nearing the point of full recovery. Even though I take full responsibility for my decision to accept help and recover I could not have done it without the support I received from the professionals involved in my care. After reaching rock bottom, I was given a lifeline; a place on the ‘Day Support Programme’ at April House. The support I received here was incredible and I hate to think where I would be today if it weren’t for them, I certainly wouldn’t be enjoying life and looking forward to a full and happy future. The staff held me up when I was at my weakest, kept on encouraging me when I felt helpless and never gave up on me. DSP gave me the strength, insight and tools that I needed to begin the difficult fight to regain the control that my eating disorder had stolen from me.
        Choosing to let go of my eating disorder has been one of the hardest yet best decisions I have ever made. Recovery is a very personal thing but for me above all else it means hope and life. If I have these two then I also have freedom, health, happiness and the chance to be the person I want to be. The process of recovery is incredibly painful and takes a lot of hard work. I had to access inner stores of strength that I didn’t know existed and rely upon my hope and trust in others that things could be different, in order to persevere when I felt so lost. In addition, when I was trapped within my eating disorder, recovery seemed completely unachievable and it felt as if there was no escape. This meant that I needed an acute level of support to even take the first step towards confronting my anorexia. ‘DSP’ provided me with this.
        The ‘Day Support Programme’ at April House is very intense. When I attended DSP, the structure of the programme combined supported meal times with therapeutic groups (such as anxiety management, emotional coping skills and goal setting), as well as allowing time for rest and relaxation. At the end of each day there was ‘REST’ (reflective, emotional, support time) where clients were encouraged to talk through any problems they were having and to share their thoughts and feelings, especially anything the day had bought up for them. In addition to a lot of group work, each client was assigned a key worker who they met with regularly. My key worker was exceptional and I will never be able to thank her enough. As time went on I built up a strong relationship with her and was able to be honest about how I was thinking and feeling. She helped me understand myself and believed in me even when I felt like giving up. The staff encouraged clients to not only be open in these individual sessions but also in facilitated groups as sharing experiences can be really beneficial to all those involved.
On top of working through emotional difficulties, DSP also provided practical help. There was a ‘Practical group’ where clients were supported in choosing and cooking a hot meal. In addition, when the staff felt a client was psychologically and physically ready, they were able to go out into ‘the real world’ to put the theory into practice. I was supported in not only going out for a snack and then for lunch but also in food shopping. The skills I learnt were invaluable and I still use them regularly.
        Although the ‘Day Support Programme’ provides people with the opportunity to have support with challenging their eating disorder, it is up to the individual to take responsibility for their own recovery. People have to want to give recovery a try and make full use of the groups, tools and knowledge in order for the treatment to work effectively. Having said that, I do truly believe that everyone deserves the chance and has the potential to break free from their mental health problems. Therefore when I heard that April House was going to be expanding, I was so happy. With the number of people suffering from eating disorders on the rise, I feel it is important now more than ever to invest in those who are willing to give recovery a try. If pre-existing ‘Day Support Programmes’ can expand and new ones can be set up, I personally think we really can help victims out of the torment of their eating disorder.
        Even though I personally think that the positives of these programmes outweigh the costs, I do think it is important to acknowledge that the expansion and creation of such intense programmes would involve a lot funding. Although, in an idealistic world, the issue of money would be irrelevant, as you can’t buy happiness, I understand that for many this would be worrying. I believe, however, that ‘Day Support Programmes’ could in fact save money as hopefully they would reduce the number of eating disorder related hospital admissions; which are also on the rise.
The ‘Day Support Programme’ at April House truly is outstanding and really did change my life. The support I received in working through my difficulties was essential to my recovery and the skills I learned will be with me forever, helping me to maintain my health and happiness. It’s certainly no overstatement to say the work they do is not only life changing but also life saving.