MHAW26 - Gareth's story
Cycling helps Gareth “get in a groove”. On days when the sun is shining and the sky is blue, Gareth feels positive and energized and likes to go cycling on his pushbike. Ahead of the interview for Mental Health Awareness Week, Gareth cycled 3.7 miles to meet Jackie, the Customer Engagement Manager at Advance, for the interview.
However, behind Gareth’s positive energy is a journey that wasn’t always easy. After splitting up with his partner, Gareth was homeless for 5 months. He then lived in a homeless shelter for 11 months and was at a really low point before social services helped him find a bedsit through Advance.
He’s now lived there for nearly two years. When he first went to view the bedsit with his Mum, they were pleased that he would have enough room to grow as a person and to be independent. This is exactly what Gareth has done since moving in.
In Gareth’s building, he likes having the choice between being social and spending time in the communal areas and having some downtime in his own room, which he sees as his “safe space”. Since moving, he feels he has come to fit in really well and that the time he’s lived there has flown by. Jackie credits Gareth with being “the most positive person” she knows and someone who always “has a smile in his voice.”
Gareth believes in pushing himself to step outside of his comfort zone and adopt a positive frame of mind. He says his support workers help him with this, and he is honest with them, telling them to give him a push if he needs one. Recently, to boost his mental health, Gareth challenged himself to walk for two miles twice a week with his support workers.
When cycling, Gareth listens to music, starts pedaling, and feels he is “in a bubble” where he can forget about any negative thoughts or feelings he may be having at that time. He is able to focus on getting from A to B, and finds cycling boosts his mood by giving him endorphins, which in turn calms anxiety.
On days when the weather is less pleasant, Gareth feels it is important to go at his own pace and perhaps go for a walk instead of going out on his pushbike.
When it comes to mental health, Gareth stresses the importance of being open and honest about how he is feeling. He speaks to his social workers if he needs a chat, and talks to others in the communal areas.
As well as this, Gareth emphasizes the importance of everyone going at their own pace. He notes that everyone is different when it comes to mental health and personality, because “if everybody was the same it would be boring”.
Gareth thinks about negative thoughts and anxiety as everyone has a devil and an angel on their shoulders. It was by listening to the angel on his shoulder that Gareth was able to be brave and meet Jackie for the first time at a coffee shop. Since then, Gareth has loved being involved with Advance and helping on the Customer Complaints Panel, where he shines a light on issues, asks questions, and advocates for the best quality service for all of the Advance customers.
Through it all, Gareth has been able to meet lots of new people and grow as a person. Reflecting on his journey with Advance, Gareth feels he has “come out the other end of the tunnel” and is proud of what he has been able to achieve. He is now able to recognise when he is “having a moment” and find “pockets of joy” every day through his cycling, walking, and work with Advance.
In the future, he hopes to continue pushing himself and doing the things he loves, get a bird feeder for his communal garden, and organise a movie event with Advance.