Impossible Made Possible with Charlton Athletic Community Trust: Katy’s story

“At the beginning of 2020 I suffered an emotional trauma… not knowing how to deal with this grief I shut down, I stopped sleeping, eating, and drinking water. My mental health declined, I was diagnosed with psychosis and hospitalised for 5 weeks,”  says Katy, whose story is an example of how poor mental health can not only affect anybody at anytime, but with the right support the road to recovery is possible.

Katy explains how her problems didn’t end even after she was able to leave hospital,

“Leaving hospital, I walked away with shame due to social stigmas. – I was broken.  Thankfully, I was referred to a wonderful team of Early Intervention Programme (EIP) staff, and they put me in contact with Charlton Athletic Community Trust’s (CACT) mental health provision.”

This is where things began to change for Katy, she comments,

“Through attending amazing activities, I met fellow patients, experiencing similar symptoms and treatments. I pushed myself to try new things and faced the tough journey to get better. Because of the work of EIP and CACT, I regained my life balance and became a stronger person.”

Katy is now living back in her hometown of Deal in Kent and is also back in employment. Katy continues to take part in many activities she first experienced on the project. Paddle boarding is her favourite, she recently purchased her own paddle board and is regularly found boarding off the coast of Deal.

“I have done things that I would never have dreamt of, like confidently walking up to someone first, striking up a conversation, making friends. I have now been  discharged from mental health services and I am no longer on medication, I have completed a master’s degree, achieving a Distinction, which I still disbelieve. I think I can safely speak for myself and others when thanking the CACT team for all they have done for us”.

Katy is a huge advocate for Charlton Athletic and speaks openly and honestly about her experiences and what helped her during a time of crisis for her and her family. Prior to discharge, Katy spent time supporting others who were at the start of their recovery journey. She reassured and supported them to engage in the project, always promoting herself as an example of success. She now volunteers on CACT’s Next steps residential programme. This project offers a residential and activity experience in Cornwall for people who are at an advanced stage of recovery from psychosis. Having attended herself in 2022, Katy is passionate about supporting other clients to attend by providing vital peer support throughout the week. She also doubles up as a minibus driver to help transport attendees to Cornwall.

Carl Krauhaus , Head of Early Help & Prevention for Charlton Athletic Community Trust comments:

“We are proud to have played a positive role in Katy’s successful recovery journey which was further highlighted when Katy co-hosted the CACT awards with Lord Michael Grade at House of Lords, in November 2023 and shared her story of challenge and recovery. She is hugely inspirational in her openness to discuss her challenges and recovery for the benefit of others.”

Katy is an amazing example of successful recovery driven by herself and supported by CACT’s skilled mental health staff.