"Support worker has helped build my confidence and strength"

I came into prison last year pregnant, I gave birth a few months later and had my beautiful baby girl, unfortunately I was at a different prison at that point so I had no help from mental health, but I kept myself busy throughout and after my daughter was born.

I could breastfeed my daughter from birth and still now I'm still breastfeeding and expressing my daughter her milk, she is now 9 months old, my daughter is with my family and visits fortnightly.

Mental health services were offered to me 8 weeks after my daughter was born, once I'd moved to this prison. Heather has supported me through this difficult time and has helped me build so much confidence and strength in myself to keep going. She knows I'm already focused on all the things that are important to me and my daughter and can see that I'm already very strong at keeping my head together. I work all week, do education to better my resources and knowledge further so that when I go home I have qualifications to get myself a job to support my daughter.

I also make schedules and have learned to crotchet, teddies, blankets, hats for my own children, but also for other mums in here without their families.

I focus my mental health onto projects I do or the work I do to prevent myself from feeling alone and lost without my family and children, so the days, weeks and months fly by.

I just want to say a big thank you to Heather for being a listening ear and offering me support when I need it the most.

I will keep strong and I will keep pushing myself past the obstacles that linger every now and then.

Thank you!