Pru has experienced mental health problems since she was 25. 
"Life is for living and the skin you are in is the one that matters, so find something that helps you believe in that and stick with it."
Following a very stressful period in life (high stress job, living in London, traumatic relationship) Pru had a breakdown and was admitted to hospital. Pru felt that this period of her life was the “wilderness years”. She was given a cocktail of drugs, received ECT which caused memory loss and was passed from psychiatrist to psychiatrist.
Following an initial mis-diagnosis of Mixed Affective Disorder, Pru was treated 11 years later at Marchwood Priory in 1992. On closer examination she was diagnosed with manic depression (bi-polar affective disorder) and the high dosage of drugs she had been on was reduced. She felt that her life had been turned around in just one month.
Although she experienced stigma in every aspect of her life - from taunts within her community, to the failure of her employer to support her during a time of mental ill health and the lack of understanding from her family, Pru feels her experience has helped her learn, become stronger and develop a passion for making a difference for the future.
Pru feels moving on is much more than just letting go and saying, “I’m better”. Her involvement in the mental health voluntary sector has strengthened her identity as a strong woman with her own direction.
Since October 2006 Pru has been looking after her husband Hugh since his breakdown and hospital admission. This has caused a lot of extra stress that she has learnt to deal with - but she couldn't do it without the support of Brand Street Resource Centre, the psychiatrists at the Southern General and support workers from GAMH Carers Support Project and GAMH South West Support Team.
Pru’s advice to others in a similar situation is, ‘have belief….it’s easy to say there is light at the end of the tunnel….but there is. No drugs, therapies or psychiatrists can substitute the value of self belief. Life is for living and the skin you are in is the one that matters, so find something that helps you believe in that and stick with it.’