Lucy has been a patient at Cygnet Maple House since the summer of 2023. The service, on Kneeton Road, East Bridgford, is a 16 bed highly specialised service providing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for women with personality disorder and complex needs.
Lucy, now 23, has been in and out of mental health services since she was 12 years old. She has a diagnosis of Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder meaning she suffers with unstable moods, impulsivity, and difficulty regulating emotions.
After spending the last 18 months at Cygnet Maple House, the Mansfield-born woman is looking forward to a future of independent living, back home with her family.
“I am so proud of how far I have come,” she explained.
“When I first arrived at Maple House, I was scared, frightened and in quite a dark place. I was really unwell when I first arrived but I had the fight and determination to get better.
“I genuinely wanted to become well again and I was supported every step of the way.”
Lucy praised the staff who supported her throughout her admission at Cygnet Maple House.
She said: “My favourite thing about Maple House has been building the relationships with the staff. They are so kind, helpful and supportive and I would never have got this far without them. I can honestly say I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them, they gave me a second chance.
“They always have time for me, no matter how busy they are. They recognise if I am having a bad day and might need extra support.
“When I am having a good day there’s always plenty of activities to do. They embrace least restrictive practice which means you have access to everything. Although that can feel scary at first, it’s really empowering, having that level of trust put on you.”
Lucy was discharged from Cygnet Maple House on Thursday 15 January and will now be supported by a community care team. She said she is most looking forward to spending time with her young niece and nephew and is excited to see what the future holds.
“If someone had told me this time last year that I’d be discharged, I would have laughed at them. I’m just so thankful for the opportunities which have been given to me.
“I’m going to take each day as it comes. But I’m definitely feeling hopeful and optimistic about what lies ahead for me.
“It’s all thanks to the incredible care I received at Maple House and I’m thankful for all of the staff. I’m really going to miss their sense of humour, they’ve all been amazing to me.”
Hospital manager Nicola Mullender added: “We are all so proud of Lucy and how far she has come on her personal journey.
“When we think back to how she was on her first day of admission, to now being discharged back home, she has been on an incredible journey and embraced the opportunities and treatment we offered here.
“We wish her every success for the future.”