Stephen, a resident at the Haven
When I was 14 years old I became depressed because I had severe acne and other children picked on me at school. I took an overdose of sleeping tablets and was admitted to hospital, this was the first time I had contact with a psychiatrist. Throughout my teenage years I had a number of bouts of depression and left school and drifted from one part time job to another.
When I was 24 I was about to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act when I ran away from home and lived in a corridor of a block of flats. I had a spell in a mental Health unit but was discharged from hospital when I took alcohol on to the ward and I became homeless from that point onwards.
At this time I was drinking 9 cans of ‘Special Brew’ a day, and begging too. I was eating cold chips from dustbins and the voices in my head were constant. Whilst on the street I was frequently abused by others and bullied by teenagers. I caught pneumonia and ended in hospital for 6 months. When discharged I was housed in a flat in Bethnal Green, however I didn’t like it there and got rid of the keys down a drain.
I was then moved to a homeless hostel with over 200 other men, but I was thrown out of there when someone set fire to my bedroom. I got the blame but it wasn’t me. I moved back to the streets. I was living from one day to the next. I continued to drink. I had no life. Then in December 2003 I moved to the Haven. It was difficult to adapt at first, I was so used to doing my own thing but I’m now at a better place.
My physical health has improved and my mental health is much better. I haven’t broken the law in years and I no longer beg for money to buy alcohol. I now have a better outlook and more of a future.
Gerri Anderson, Stephen’s key worker at the Haven adds
When Stephen first came to The Haven he did not want to interact with staff much at all. The voices in his head were really bothering him and he could often be heard shouting at them. Since then we have seen a real change - he has slowly grown in confidence and the real Stephen has emerged. He is always willing to either show visitors around or help another resident in need.
He is personable and polite and amazes staff with his in-depth knowledge of football – especially the times and dates, scores and scorers. And on a holiday to Belgium with the Haven, staff were gobsmacked when he started speaking fluent French to the shopkeepers! Stephen has made incredible progress and is a pleasure to have at The Haven. It has been an amazing transformation.