Mandy's story - York Carers Centre

Mandy, a dedicated Mental Health Carer from New Earswick, has been caring for her daughter while receiving invaluable support from York Carers Centre for the past 18 months.

Through York Carers Centre, Mandy has accessed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and participated in wellbeing activities designed for Mental Health Carers. She enjoyed a day trip to Scarborough with her sister, a special tour of York Minster with afternoon tea at The Principle Hotel and even attended a Nordic star making workshop. She also participated in a meditation course, which offered moments of calm and a chance to clear her mind.

Mandy was referred to Kyra, a local women’s group, which she has found incredibly valuable. It has helped her broaden her support network and build meaningful new friendships. She now volunteers at the Mental Health Hub alongside her peer support worker, Julie.

“My volunteering role, I go once a week. The hub is like a cafe for people with mental health and other problems and I am like a waitress. But it’s the talking to people and the listening to people’s stories. We’ve all got our own stories, and we share them, and we share them within that room, and it doesn’t go no further. And it’s lovely. It’s a lovely, lovely place to be around them all.”

For Mandy, the journey hasn’t been easy, but with support, she’s rediscovering herself.

“I haven’t laughed for a long, long time. I feel, I’m finding me but a different me now, through it all. I feel 100% validated, I feel like I’m a person. You know, I am Mandy. Julie’s done that to me. I’ve been the lowest I’ve ever been in my life, and it was frightening, but bit by bit, I’m coming back.”