SARAH (not her real name) has been living with depression and anxiety for many years. Following a diagnosis with breast cancer, her mental health deteriorated further.

“I have suffered from depression for quite a few years, and I am on medication for it, and medication for anxiety. When I discovered that I had breast cancer, the anxiety and that got worse.

“My depression and anxiety were bad, but then I had breast cancer and had to have my breast removed. At the minute, I am going through chemotherapy and, really, I have good days and bad days,” she told this newspaper.

When asked how depression and anxiety affect her, Sarah said: “[I have] just really down days; I just feel that everything is on the ground.

“Now, my anxiety, I think I have it under control a little bit with my medication. My heart was racing.”

Over the past couple of years Sarah has been receiving support from Anja, a Social Prescriber at the ARC Healthy Living Centre, Irvinestown.

A Social Prescriber supports people to improve their health and wellbeing by keeping in regular contact with them.

Explaining that going through cancer treatment whilst dealing with depression and anxiety has been “a rough, difficult time”, Sarah said: “The chemotherapy is very severe and then, with lockdown, when you’re not allowed friends [over, it’s emotionally even harder to cope].

“I live on my own as well so it’s very difficult. But I have to say Anja has been a rock – she’s been great, just brilliant,” she added.

Outlining how Anja helps her, Sarah said: “[She] would ring me and she sends me different wee things to do for depression and anxiety.

“She sends me wee messages to think of a good day, aims and to ‘go for goals’, maybe having a bath or reading.

“She says, ‘And don’t think of the bad things’. Even writing things down [and] then burning them, different wee things like that that have helped me.”

Sarah says that she would receive calls from Anja twice a month, “or maybe more”.

She continued: “Anja would ring me, but she would send wee messages and that as well. It helps me to talk to her – I love to speak to her. I can open up to her now.

“I have a counsellor as well, since I’ve had my cancer, and I was saying to Anja, I can speak better to her.

“There’s something about Anja; she’s compassionate and very, very thoughtful,” said Sarah, adding: “I know that there’s someone that understands and knows what I’m going through.

“It reassures me.”

The Arc Healthy Living Centre: Tel: 028 6862 8741; email: info@archlc.com

SPRING Social Prescribing helps people aged 18+ address their health and wellbeing by connecting them to sources of support within the community.

SPRING Social Prescribing is funded with £3.2 million by the National Lottery Fund.

The Department of Agriculture, Economic and Rural Affairs (DAERA) has also invested £500,000.

The Housing Executive are running a pilot scheme in Derry and Strabane District Council area.

The Spring Social Prescribing Project is a partnership between Bogside and Brandywell Health Forum, the Healthy Living Centre Alliance, and Scottish Communities for Health and Wellbeing.

The project has a network of 24 community health partners delivering Social Prescribing services across Northern Ireland and Scotland.

There are 21 Social Prescribers working in socially-deprived areas throughout Northern Ireland.