Depression

My name is Ken Thomas and I am a mental health service user. I am also a member of the User Carer Council and a Mental Health Act Manager within Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

I joined the Army at 16 years of age and trained as a quantity surveyor. I served for 18 years and left as a Seargeant Major.

On leaving the Army I stayed in the construction industry but as my Army qualifications were not recognised in civilian life I went back to college and obtained my degree.

I had lots of responsibility but, looking back, I realise I did not know who I was and that I was hiding behind my roles. I was good at keeping things to myself and keeping up a front for others when I was not feeling so well.

I now know that I had been suffering from depression for some years but either did not or would not accept the fact that I was ill. Physically I felt well. I put on an act as the ‘hale fellow well met’. I was feeling absolutely desolate inside but would not discuss it with anyone, including my wife. Things got worse – my wife and I did not live together - and I felt more alone, unhappy and began not to care about myself or anything. By this time  - it was about five years ago - I had retired, so not having any particular aim in life I let myself go and things got really bad. I tried to take my own life and as a result I landed up in Leyton Ward in the Woodlands Unit.

After a few days I realised that real help was at hand and I decided to cooperate in every possible way. That was the finest decision I have ever made. I received the best possible treatment in Leyton Ward. The doctors really did a good job in making me realise that things could only get better – and they have.

I was discharged from Oxleas some two years ago and now feel as well as I can ever remember for many years. I have become as active in as many ways as I can and feel that I am now putting something back into Oxleas. That’s because I truly feel I could not have been treated better.

My main object is to try and dispel the stigma attached to anyone who has suffered or is suffering from a mental health problem. The general public needs to be better informed. They only learn about the bad things but hear nothing of the good. Which should change.