In 2013 the Vivian Moon Foundation kindly gave me a grant to continue with my counselling course. I had lived with mental health issues for 20 or so years and my personal recovery journey had just began; I thought gaining the counselling skill could enable me to help others in a similar situation, although I don't think I every imagined it would take me on the journey it has.

I completed the counselling studies and skills courses. Then, while attending a Zero Suicide Collaboration, myself and a friend set up the North Devon Self Harm and Suicide Prevention Group. We have gone from a group of 4 to a Devon-Wide Alliance, of which I am Chairman.

If you have noticed on the bridges in Barnstaple and Bideford by the Samaritans sign there is a shortened version of the “Letter of Hope”, I and 5 others wrote the letter but it was too long for the bridge so we shortened it plus signposting to other help. I have been a witness at the House of Commons Health Select Committee into suicide prevention, trained in ASIST and been called on several times and get someone who is actively attempting to take their life safe for now.

I am now working on the ward on which I left 10 years ago saying I would never return and at that time my intention was to take my life because I wanted the emotional and physical pain to stop. I will be giving hope enabling people to look at their recovery involved in suicide prevention, tackling the stigma and misconceptions that surround all aspects of mental health.

This is a very brief tour of my journey so far but I wanted the Foundation to know they have been a part of this and I use the skills that attending the course you funded has been actively and positively used.