Help is at hand for mental illness sufferers

8:55am Saturday 15th March 2008

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A MIDDLEWICH couple are offering a hand of support to people suffering from mental illness.

Hayley and Andrew Latham are hoping to set up an informal help centre for people with mental illness after Andrew was diagnosed with bipolar disorder last year and struggled to get the support he needed.

The 39-year-old said: "I would like to see some kind of drop in centre for people with mental health problems where people can go and talk and ask questions about it and speak to other people in the same condition."

Andrew, who works at the RHM Factory, has struggled with depression since he was in his 20s and despite numerous visits to doctors and being put on anti-depressants he was not diagnosed with bipolar until he was 38.

After sinking to an all time low Andrew was eventually admitted to Leighton Hospital for self-harm where it was finally realised that he needed help and was referred to a psychiatrist.

He says that had more help been available to him his condition may not have spiralled out of control.

"The waiting list for the psychiatrist is three or four months and that's when you are at your lowest and there's nothing to get you through those few months.

"If someone could just say to you your on the waiting list for the psychiatrist, but while your waiting there's a drop-in-centre where you can go' it would be so much better than being left in limbo."

Bipolar is a form of manic depression where sufferers experience extreme highs and lows.

Andrew now has the condition under control after being put on medication, but wants to reach out to other people who are suffering.

He added: "There might be a lot of people out there that don't know they have even got it. I have to go through the rest of my life with this and I would like to meet and talk about it with other people who share the same problem."

If you would like to get in touch or would be interested in joining a drop-in-centre call reporter Hayley Collins on 01606 813 623 who will pass your details on to the couple.