Nigel’s story of personal development and self-improvement at Mill Garth

After spending 15 years as a patient in a secure hospital, I’m now going through a personal transformation. It's crucial for me to understand and develop the qualities I need to succeed and build a good life outside of the hospital.

To be successful at enrolling and attending college as well as volunteering in a charity shop, I must maintain a good standard of motivation. Motivation is something that can be lost or misunderstood in hospital settings. Patients can spend years with very little stimulation but are still expected to stay motivated to engage in therapy and programmes.

In my journey, I've learned that qualities like vitality, enthusiasm and self-belief are essential to personal growth. These traits have helped me become more positive and driven.

Living in a psychiatric hospital comes with unique challenges. You have to adjust to a different way of life, where structure and rules play a significant role in your daily routine. You lose many of society’s privileges and self-expression needs to be more measured. It's tough, but over time, you adapt to the structure and learn valuable coping skills and strategies.

I see my personal growth as a snowball effect. Once you take small steps forward, your confidence builds, and soon you find yourself making bigger strides and reaching goals you once thought were impossible.

My personal view is that life can be compared to a wheel in motion on a bicycle. You make bad choices and repeat the same behaviours over and over. To break this cycle, you need to step out of your comfort zone and take part in positive activities that improve your wellbeing. Small steps can turn into big achievements. All you need is the willingness to change your mind-set - and suddenly, anything is possible!

When I came to Mill Garth my life improved greatly. I joined a 6-week ‘cycle for health’ programme, where we met up regularly to ride bikes in the local area. After that, my doctor approved me to attend college twice a week to learn to become a plasterer. Before starting, I needed help figuring out the route to college. The occupational therapy (OT) team helped me gradually get used to the journey - teaching me which bus to take and where to go until I was confident enough to do it on my own. I successfully completed my Level 1 plastering course, and my tutors were pleased with my progress and work.

I also volunteer at a Sue Ryder charity shop three times a week. Debbie, the manager, has praised my hard work and told the OT team how much I've come out of my shell. I’ve recently been able to extend my hours, and most of my week is now spent in the community. This has helped me build connections and feel more at home in society.

I’m genuinely happy now and have found purpose in my life. I feel hopeful about the future and confident that I can continue contributing to the community when I am discharged.

A patient story