WHEN Elaine Ashurst first stepped foot inside Fremantle Hospital’s Mental Health Service, it was as a patient.
“I wasn’t enjoying life, I couldn’t sleep, I was worrying about worrying and I didn’t want to see my daughter,” she said.
“I wrote my thoughts and feelings down and concluded my family would be better off without me – I never planned a method of suicide, I just felt compelled to leave.”
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWExperiencing debilitating anxiety and |insomnia, it was a chance meeting with a friend who convinced her to go to Fremantle Hospital that helped her change her life around.
“I didn’t think I would be admitted, I was totally unaware of how ill I was,” she said.
Two years on and Ms Ashurst is still at Fremantle Hospital but this time is helping others going through the same thing.
“The professional help I received in hospital was invaluable but I would have really benefited from talking to someone with a lived experience, that’s why I’m doing this,” she said. “Being at the hospital keeps me grounded, I am passionate about removing the stigma of mental health issues and working to enhance the services available.
“My recovery journey is continuing and I am thankful to Fremantle Hospital for starting me on it, to my outpatient OT for ensuring I stayed on track and my family for giving me the reason to begin.”
MORE: One lucky WA punter $2 million richer after Lotto win
MORE: Police seeking help after Southern River teenager approached by unknown man