Alex's Story
‘Get help when you are ready’
This story was written by one of our young advisors after interviewing Alex
At just fifteen years old, Alex went through a huge traumatic experience when his mother died of cancer. Alex was traumatised and greatly affected by this but for years he denied he needed help or support.
In truth Alex did greatly want help and a way forward to overcome his pain and create his future. He went to see doctors and various other services but he felt like they never got to the root of his problems as all they did was give him antidepressants. These didn’t cure his pain or help him find a way out of his problems.
Alex didn’t understand a lot of the medical information that was given to him, nor did he feel like people were listening to him. When he went to see a Connexions worker they gave him the details of an advocacy service based in the area and helped him to get in touch with them. He didn’t know much about advocacy beforehand, “At first I was very wary of advocacy but then I was pleasantly surprised. I saw my advocate did care and listened because they really wanted to help.”
His advocate helped him understand and translate adult information into language that he could understand especially the medical information. Through working with his advocate Alex was able to get his doctor to understand his point of view with the result that his medication was changed.
Alex says his advoacte helped him to:
* “understand information about my medication” * “become a better advocate for myself and express my needs better” * “understand the issues going on in my life” * “find a counsellor who I got on with” * “become a volunteer at the advocacy project which I am still doing and really benefit from”Alex feels a sense of belonging at the advocacy service where he now helps out as a volunteer advisor. Through this he has earnt several achievement awards as well as helping others and overcoming many of his own hurdles. He would recommend having an advocate to everyone who feels they need some help as they “do not try to persuade you…they listen to you and help you find your own way forward in life.”
Alex’s final message for everyone is:
“Do it, find an advocate. Get help when you are ready. Use as much of the information you can and that feels right for you”.
We help young people age 6-19 in Somerset to get their views heard on issues affecting their emotional or mental wellbeing. Our service is free, independent and confidential.