Real Stories

About Real Stories

When you’re struggling with your feelings it can sometimes seem like you’re the only one who feels the way you do. But you’re not alone. Lots of other people deal with similar problems all the time – you just might not know it.

Real Stories are created by MindMate, to share stories from young people in Leeds who have had problems with their mental health. We’ll be adding more stories over the next few months so please check back again soon.

For more information about the issues raised, look out for the pop-ups throughout the films or see our ‘Common issues’ section on the MindMate website.

Send your story

Would you like to feature on MindMate’s ‘Real Stories’?

Have you experienced panic attacks in the past and would be comfortable talking about it on film?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Please contact us if you’re interested.*

Contact us

*Unfortunately, we can't promise to include everyone who comes forward, but we will reply to every email we receive as soon as we can.

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Naomi's story
I come here because it's a bit of a haven
You can just zone out
In the last depression relapse that I had, I've never been that low before
More on depression
I just couldn't really talk or move...
I've been in services for a lot of years
Starting conversations
I started art journaling
I would just stare at a blank page and not be able to think of anything
Start talking
It's not worked because I've not been happy
Set goals that I actually want to achieve
If you were living what you thought was your best life
What would it look like?
Working out where your values are and what you enjoy
How to say no to things that aren't helpful
Being able to do the things you want to do

What is depression?

Depression is more than just a bad day. It’s when those low, ‘depressed’ feelings are there for a long time and are there all the time (or at least a lot of it).

You can suffer from depression whether you’re young or old, so if sad feelings and emotions are taking over your life then it’s a good idea to ask for help.

Things you might find useful

  • Find help in Leeds

    If you’ve felt low for a while, it could be time to talk to someone.

    Find out more

  • Symptoms of depression

    This NHS site might help.

    Find out more

  • Look after you

    There are some simple things you can do to boost your mood.

    Find out more

  • I had a black dog

    A short film about living with depression.

    Find out more

  • Help on MindMate

    Find even more help on MindMate.

    Find out more

Starting conversations

Talking about how you feel can be hard. It’s not always easy to know what to say first or how to describe how you feel, but it can be a big help to share your feelings with someone who cares.

Getting started

If you’re ready to start talking it can really help to plan what you’re going to say.

  • Top tips on starting conversations

    Tips, hints, worksheets and more.

    Find out more

  • Get DocReady

    This site can help you to get prepared to see your doctor.

    Find out more

  • Find someone close to you

    Try our game to see who could help.

    Find out more

  • Talk to someone in Leeds

    There are lots of places to go for help in Leeds.

    Find out more

  • Talk online

    An online messageboard, such as Childline’s might help:

    Find out more

Start talking

It can sometimes be really hard to put into words what you’re feeling. If you want to start talking, it can help if you plan what you want to say. There’s a few ways of making this easier.

Things you might find useful

  • Get DocReady

    This site can help you to get prepared to see your doctor.

    Find out more

  • Think, Feel, Want

    Our worksheet can help you to get your thoughts together.

    Find out more

  • Top tips on starting conversations

    Tips, hints, worksheets and more.

    Find out more

  • Record yourself

    Don’t want to write anything down? Recording your feelings on a voice recorder app can help.

    Find out more

  • Gauging reactions

    Those close to you may not quite know how to react at first, so give them a moment

    Find out more

  • Time to change

    Time to change has some ideas to help you handle different reactions.

    Find out more

A final note from Naomi

Build the life you want to live. That to me is what recovery is.
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Learn more about...

If you need help with your feelings, there are lots of options available to you. This might be through your school or college or with the brilliant local services available in Leeds. Most of them are free, although some of them have a waiting list. You just need to find the right service for you.

Find out more

Feelings change from day to day and that’s absolutely normal. Sometimes though, you might decide that you need some help with what’s going on in your head. From worrying too much, hurting yourself or feelings about food, there is help and advice available. Find out more about some common issues.

Find out more

Sometimes life can feel hard, you might feel down or like no one understands you – and that can be normal. If sad thoughts and worries won’t go away, or you feel like life isn’t worth living, then you might be experiencing something that’s sometimes called depression. There are lots of things that can help, including lifestyle changes, but talking to someone or looking for advice can be a really good first step.

Find out more

Sometimes it can be really hard to deal with issues or express how you’re feeling. These feelings can make some people want to hurt themselves on purpose, or ‘self-harm’. People self-harm for many different or personal reasons and you may not fully understand why you want to – but please remember that you’re not alone and there are different ways to cope and get help.

Find out more
Photo of young person looking at comics Watch Robbie's Story

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