As we are continue to celebrate Mental Health Nurses Day, Tracey has kindly shared her own mental health journey with us.
Following a deterioration in her own mental health, Tracey Weldon was inspired to follow her childhood dreams of becoming a mental health nurse.
Now, on National Mental Health Nurses Day, Tracey is sharing her story in a bid to inspire others to take the step into nursing.
Like many children Tracey dreamed of becoming a teacher or a nurse and really wanted to be able to work in a field where she was helping others.
She recalls: “I struggled with my mental health increasingly in my late teens but masked this from those around me. I didn’t understand my experiences and didn’t know how to talk about them and was so ashamed of them. Whilst studying for my English degree in Leeds I developed some means of keeping myself well, but it was an ongoing challenge.”
Aged 21, Tracey studied to become a teacher. She comments: “I loved working with young people and being able to share my passion for literature was a real blessing. I worked on some enrichment schemes with inner city kids and in this role witnessed behaviours and challenges from those I worked with that would later feed my interest in trauma-informed practice”. However, further deterioration in her mental health, resulted in Tracey spending a period of time in hospital.
Tracey explains: “I have very vague recollections of hospital as a whole in the initial weeks of admission, but have one very vivid memory of myself sitting colouring in, feeling tired and needing a break from colouring in. A couple of months before I was productive, working, studying and to not be able to cope with something I wasn’t even interested in was a bit of a low point – it’s one of the reasons I am so passionate with ensuring those in my care have access to varied activities and activities that are important to them. I’d never want anyone to feel that way.”
It was during her stay in hospital that Tracey realised she still had a strong desire to become a nurse. She recalls: “There was one particular nurse on my ward who was just amazing. I looked at how she supported one of the ladies one day and I thought, I want to do what you do for people.” Her childhood dream of being a nurse was still there, and Tracey realised she really wanted to make it a reality.
Eighteen months after being discharged from hospital Tracey decided to go back to university and retrained to be a registered mental health nurse. “It wasn’t smooth sailing – I had to defer at the end of my first year due to becoming unwell again which was frustrating for me but necessary. I really enjoyed all of my placements and never looked back really,” said Tracey.
Tracey’s parents were really supportive of her throughout her nurse training. She explains: “My mental health had come as a bit of a bolt from the blue initially, since I had masked my symptoms quite effectively. It had been a difficult journey for them trying to understand something that was completely new to them and learn how best to support me. They were all pleased that I’d been able to persevere and recover and proud that I had been able to bring something positive out of something so challenging.”
Since qualifying ten years ago, Tracey has looked after women within secure inpatient services. She comments: “My favourite placement during my training was within female forensic services, as it was then. It was challenging and I experienced things I didn’t even know existed, but the team were incredible and watching the way they held hope for ladies who felt there was none and cared for them regardless was inspiring. It was where I wanted to be.”
Tracey has continued to work in the same field and says: “I absolutely love it. It’s really hard sometimes with a lot of bumps in the road. You have to be able to appreciate the little steps and the glimmers along the way and celebrate them for the miracles they are. Everyone’s journey is different, and you must look at people’s individual achievements in their own context. It’s a privilege to be able to be a part of those journeys.”
Tracey adds: “I’ve learnt so much over the last decade from both patients and colleagues and it’s made me who I am today. I’ve learnt about hurt and trauma, risk and safety and the importance of teamwork and resilience. I’ve also witnessed compassion, community, hope and humanity at its best and the inestimable value of relationships.”
Looking back on her own experiences and how it brought her to where she is today, Tracey comments: ”Whilst my mental health is an ongoing battle I have long periods of wellness and have only required one further inpatient admission. The periods in which I have been unwell have been hard, horrendous at times, often confusing and have taken me far from where I thought I would be. My experiences and those I shared them with have helped shape who I am today and the things I’ve achieved. Mental health nursing is such a rewarding profession. When I think about the ways in which my professions has allowed me to help people, I feel incredibly proud. However, there are so many more people out there that still need help too. I’d urge anyone considering a career in nursing to think seriously about becoming a mental health nurse. Even in the most challenging situations, I have never regretted it for a moment.”
