Published on: 25 June 2026
A Derbyshire resident has shared how specialist mental health support helped her move from repeated crisis admissions to building a hopeful future in the community. 
Neneh, 29, from Erewash, has faced significant mental health challenges, including emotionally unstable personality disorder and bipolar two disorder, as well as difficult experiences earlier in life, including bereavement and childhood trauma. She is now using her story to encourage others who may feel caught in a cycle of repeated admissions or crisis support to know that recovery is possible.
Neneh said the turning point in her journey came through access to the right therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, also known as DBT, and continuity of care from Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s community mental health services.
She said: “I have managed to overcome a lot. People believed in me and my ability to get through. They saw something in me that I couldn’t see, but now I do.”
Before receiving consistent support, Neneh said she was regularly being sectioned or admitted to hospital following suicide attempts and self-harm. She explained that she would previously have had contact with emergency services and police as often as every fortnight due to the ups and downs she was experiencing in her mental state.
In the last three years, Neneh says she has not engaged in any life-threatening behaviours. She credits the ongoing support from her Community Psychiatric Nurse and therapist at Derbyshire Healthcare, as well as the nurses who cared for her on the wards during admissions, as central to her recovery. Their support helped her recognise her strengths and make lasting changes in her life.
Tumi Banda, Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals, Quality and Patient Experience at Derbyshire Healthcare, said: “Stories like these show the real difference that receiving the right support at the right time can make on someone’s recovery journey. Neneh’s recovery is a powerful reminder of how those in crisis can move forward in life once they find the right support and feel listened to.
“Thank you to Neneh for having the courage to share her story. It is important we keep circulating this sort of good news in hope that it reaches those who are struggling to know there are better days ahead with the right people behind you.”
Neneh said: “The support from my Community Psychiatric Nurse and therapist made the most difference, alongside the nurses who looked after me on the wards, who also had a big impact on my recovery. Being reminded of my strengths pushed me to be better, do better and manage my illnesses.
“Without the support, I’d not be alive today. The continuity of care from my community team and therapist helped me make those changes and put me in the driver’s seat.”
Life now looks very different for Neneh. She spends time with her two best friends, who she says, “never stopped loving me even when I felt unlovable”, and is preparing to start a voluntary role supporting others in crisis who are struggling to cope or experiencing emotional distress.
Neneh’s long-term goal is to train in psychology and become a therapist, so she can support people who are in a similar position to the one she was once in.
She said: “For those who are in a cycle of repeated admissions, please know that Derbyshire Healthcare taught me life is worth living. Don’t beat yourself up for needing help. It’s so important that you find the strength within to pull yourself out and trust yourself enough to know that the magic happens in the community setting.
“I wanted to share my story to let people know, especially those in that cycle, that you can come out of it and can make a beautiful, positive life for yourself, no matter how bleak life looks now. If I can do it, anybody can.”
Anyone who is struggling with their mental health is encouraged to seek support. If you need urgent mental health support more information can be found here on the help in a mental health crisis page on the Trust’s website.
If someone is in immediate danger, they should call 999 or attend their nearest Accident and Emergency service.
