Casey's Story: 25 Lancashire Minds

Finding stability and a fresh start

For much of his life, Casey felt like he was battling against the odds. Struggling with his mental health, dealing with personal challenges, and spending time in prison eventually led to receiving support from Lancashire Mind with supported living accommodation. “They offered me a safe place to live and provided me with a safe space to talk.”

Originally from Burnley, Casey’s journey hasn’t been easy. At 31 years old, he has faced more challenges than most. When he was admitted to hospital following years of mental health challenges, everything changed. It was there that he was introduced to Lancashire Mind’s Housing and Wellbeing Service, a turning point that would help him begin a new chapter.

“Most of my life I’ve delt with mental health challenges, being in hospital and having the support when I was discharged helped me through.”

A place to call home

When Casey was referred to Lancashire Mind, he wasn’t just given a place to stay – he was given a foundation to rebuild. The Housing and Wellbeing team provided practical help too, assisting him in sorting out his benefits and encouraging him to prioritise his mental health. Reflecting on how he now takes care of his mental health, he says, “I keep on top of my medication and talk about things if I need to with my support network.”

As he settled into his new home, Casey started to focus on his wellbeing. He realised how important routine and self-care were in managing his mental health.

One of the biggest changes in his life was discovering fitness and boxing. He took up White Collar Boxing, a challenge that pushed him physically and mentally but ultimately helped him find discipline, purpose, and confidence. “I feel great that I have learnt a new skill that I’m good at.” he says.

Beyond boxing, Casey also found comfort and relaxation in simple things: fishing, cooking, gaming and physical exercise. Watching movies and Netflix provided a source of enjoyment and inspiration, “The Rocky films are a huge inspiration to me as they have taught me never to give up on what you are passionate about.”

Looking to the future

For Casey, moving forward has also meant letting go of things that no longer serve him. He carries with him a piece of advice that helps him stay focused:

“If you have a problem with me then text me and tell me so we can talk about it, if you don’t have my number to text me then you don’t know me well enough to have a problem with me.”

This mindset has helped him set boundaries, focus on his personal growth, and surround himself with the right people. “My girlfriend has been a massive influence in my life,” he says. “She’s taught me to be a stronger person.”

A message to others

Looking back, Casey would tell his younger self, “I would say sorry to my past self for all the wrong decisions I have made over the years.”

After learning to talk more openly about his struggles, his advice to others is to, “talk to people about how you are feeling.” Recommending to anyone else who could be feeling the way he did, “Get support and the professional help that is offered to you.”

Casey has found stability, self-belief, and a future he can look forward to with his girlfriend. His journey to positive mental health isn’t over, but he now knows he has the strength and support to ‘go the distance’.

Housing and Wellbeing at Lancashire Mind

Lancashire Mind believes that good housing is essential to good mental health. We support people to identify and overcome barriers to independent living. The service aims to help individuals to maintain a tenancy, identify their strengths and goals, develop increased self-esteem, self-worth and confidence and to integrate into their local community.

Find out more about our Housing and Wellbeing service.