‘Without help, I might not be here for Alfie’
NATALIE is under no illusions.
She knows she might not be alive if she hadn’t moved to Wythenshawe to be with her partner last March.
Natalie, 36, has battled anxiety and depression, and is open about the fact she has repeatedly tried to take her own life before.
She moved from outside of Greater Manchester to be with Lee, her partner - just as the coronavirus pandemic began to bite.
But despite being plunged into lockdown, she knew moving in with Lee was her ‘lifeline.’
Natalie said: “I moved down almost immediately before the pandemic, there was talk of furlough from work, so I finished my last shift knowing [moving to Manchester] was the safe option for me.
“It was pointless staying there [her old home]. I wouldn’t be here if I hadn’t moved.”
Soon after moving in with her partner, Natalie found out she was pregnant.
Looking back now, with her now seven-week-old son Alfie, happy and healthy, she says having a baby was the best thing that could have happened to her.
But being pregnant in a new place, with no support network was an incredibly challenging time.
She was pointed her in the direction of Home-Start, a family support charity with a branch in Wythenshawe.
Natalie said Home-Start gave her the support network she so desperately needed. The new mum said: “I’d been struggling with my mental health and had no support where I moved from at all.
“Home-Start have been really amazing. At first, as an older mum, I’m 36, I thought ‘do I really need
someone to hold my hand?,’ but they have provided support without being intrusive.
“I can phone Lara my support worker or drop her a text whenever I need to.
“With my anxiety I struggle to get out anyway, Lara will be able to help me with the mother and baby groups, getting out the house, going out anywhere. It makes so much difference getting out.
“It’s going to make a real difference and it’s positive for your partner as well - if I was constantly relying on him, it does cause stress.
“I’m lucky that I do have that understanding partner, he does so much for me, but whenever I need her, Lara’s there.”