‘I FELT SUICIDAL AFTER BEING MADE REDUNDANT’

Runa Ali, 33, lives

Redundancy from my managerial role in HR just before turning 30 in March 2017 blindsided me. I’d been working in HR for 10 years, and suffered sleepless nights worrying how

I’d pay bills. Endless job applications went nowhere, and suddenly

I was relying on benefits and was prescribed antidepressants.

By June, I struggled without a network and was sleeping on a sofa. Suicidal, I bagged up my clothes and binned them. One morning, I went out intending to end my life. Luckily, my friend found me, an ambulance was called and I was taken to hospital.

After a month in hospital, I went back to my friend’s before being rehoused. I focused on recovering, until September 2018, when I felt ready to return to work.

Once I’d secured my first interview, employment specialists directed me to Dress for Success. Feeling cynical and uncertain, I arrived in my tracksuit bottoms and t-shirt, yet they listened to me talk about my background and my hopes for the future – and, for the first time in years, I felt valued and worthy.

I was given two dresses, a coat, scarf, trousers and smart tops, and was thrilled when, in October, I was offered a job as a consultant on mental health at a think tank.

I still work there now, and as part of the job, also lecture about mental health. When you’re depressed, the last thing you feel like is making an effort with your outfit, but now I enjoy choosing clothes. I’m stronger than ever and love being able to use my experience to help others.

‘I FELT VALUED AND WORTHY’