'Thick ash started to suffocate me' - Mansfield woman speaks out about how she overcame her grief and depression

Around one in four people struggle with their mental health, but the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent effects mean that, more than ever, people need to focus on their well-being.

Angie Simmons’ own struggles began more than 20 years ago, but the death of her younger brother Tony in a motorbike accident in 2007 left her spiralling into a deep depression.

The 48-year-old attempted to drown out her pain using alcohol and reckless spending, which left her with huge debts and crippling regrets.

She said: “I still remember that call, it felt like thick ash started to suffocate me.

“I introduced him to motorbikes, so the shame and guilt were overwhelming – I threw myself into organising his funeral and making sure everyone else was OK, neglecting me.

"I used alcohol to try and numb the pain, but all that did was impacted my marriage and affected my young daughter, so I hit rock bottom.”

In 2014 Angie was introduced to self-development and started seeing a therapist, which helped her regain control of her feelings and rebuild relationships.

After losing her mother in 2018 she used the techniques she had learned to ensure she avoided making the same mistakes.

She researched journaling and, after failing to find one which suited her needs, took a chance and produced her own, entitled ‘How am I feeling today?’

"When coronavirus hit, I felt the anxiety and depression trying to derail me again,” she added.

"It made me start to worry about all those who didn’t have the daily tools I have, so I began thinking of ways I could help.

"I want people to understand that the most important thing is to reach out, ask for help.

"I set up the Growth Development Foundation and created the Margjala method, which launches next month.

"It’s a 12-week mentoring programme to help improve your health and well-being.

"The key is to work harder on you than you do on anyone else – your outer world will always be a reflection of what’s going on inside, so start from there.”

To find out more about the Growth Development Foundation, check out its website.

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