"Learning to live in a mental health environment"

I came here in September 2017. I was previously from another low secure ward. I came here by choice as the brochure recommended on its programme that it has its own swimming pool and swimming which helps with my mental state, it is a therapy for me. I've been here for over a year and I have never used the swimming pool as apparently it has problems. This wasn't helpful for the beginning of my say here as I deteriorated a little bit.

I've had family visits cancelled in the past due to lack of staffing which is still an ongoing thing.

In the last 6 months I'm beginning to make progress and I'm looking at moving to a locked rehab closer to home.

The experience here has been totally different to anywhere else I have been. They set out blanket rules and don't follow them and say that everyone is an individual. We have had issues with the food as they aren't sending all the food up to the ward and so some people have to wait 20 minutes for their food to come from the kitchen.

We have weekly community meetings which is where we can air our views which is good and bad as some things get pushed under the carpet.

The ward manager is very thoughtful an understanding and he does take your view into consideration and he does hear both side of a story.

The ward as a whole recently has been getting on well and is fun, and I do agree with DBT. If anyone is in this situation (mental health) I do believe that DBT works.