“I can finally see a future” - says patient who is preparing to return home after life-changing care

A woman who had been struggling with repeated suicide attempts and complex trauma is preparing to return home after completing treatment at St Andrew’s Healthcare in Northampton.

Sharon, 43, from Donegal, Ireland, has spent the past 17 months at St Andrew’s, having previously been cared for in a secure inpatient setting where, she said, “they didn’t know what to do with me.”

She explained that previous services struggled to keep her safe, and she continued to engage in high-risk behaviours while experiencing overwhelming emotional distress.

She said: “When I first came to St Andrew’s, I felt completely hopeless. It felt like my life had stalled and there was no future for me. The pain I was experiencing felt unbearable, and I couldn’t see any way out.”

A former nurse, Sharon worked in an intensive care unit during the London terror attacks in 2005. She said the cumulative impact of working in that high-pressure environment, combined with a series of traumatic life events, including bereavement and an abusive relationship, contributed to her mental ill health.

Following several serious suicide attempts, her care team in Ireland referred her to St Andrew’s Healthcare, where she began a specialist Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) programme.

Reflecting on her treatment, Sharon said: “I had tried DBT before in the community, but I wasn’t in the right place to engage with it. This time, it was different. The structure, the support, and the way it’s delivered here meant that, for the first time in a very long time, I had hope.”

Through DBT, Sharon learned practical skills to manage distress, regulate her emotions, and reduce impulsive behaviours. She also worked with the St Andrew’s REDS Recovery College, which offers recovery-focused educational courses to support wellbeing and recovery. Sharon bravely shared her story to help inspire hope.

Alongside DBT, she also received trauma-focused therapy and support to rebuild relationships with her family. She described feeling genuinely cared for by staff, which she said played a significant role in her recovery.

“It was the first time I felt truly cared for. The staff invest so much in you, and that makes you start to believe in yourself again. They don’t just see a diagnosis - they see you as a person.”

During her admission, Sharon developed the confidence and skills to manage her mental health, with a significant reduction in suicidal thoughts and behaviours. She has also reconnected with her family and is now preparing to return home, where she will continue her recovery with community support.

Her Responsible Clinician (RC) Dr Jonathan Baggott said: “Sharon has shown remarkable courage and determination throughout her treatment. Through engaging fully with therapy, she has developed the skills needed to manage distress, reduce risk, and begin to rebuild a meaningful life beyond hospital. Her progress is a testament not only to her resilience but also to the value of structured, compassionate care.”

Looking ahead, Sharon hopes to rebuild her life and eventually return to nursing, but says her immediate focus is on continuing to apply the skills she has learned.

“I feel like I can live my life now. I know I’ll still have challenges, but I have the tools to cope with them. I was in a place where it was only going to end one way - and now I can see a future.”