Published on: 10th December 2025
A new approach to supporting people’s mental health has saved the life of a Stockport mum who’d reached breaking point
The Stockport living well service involves lots of professionals working together as a seamless partnership for the first time.
Our mental health mental health professionals are working with local GPs and primary care staff, colleagues from Viaduct Care, and a range of local voluntary, community and social enterprise partners.
The service includes a variety of roles, to make sure people receive tailored support that meets their needs. In addition to lots of different mental health professionals, there are peer support workers, who have lived mental health experience, work coaches and social prescribers who connect individuals with non-medical, community-based services and activities.
By working together, the aim is to offer support that’s more joined-up, accessible, and consistent for adults with complex mental health needs. And with their “no wrong door” approach, they’re supporting people who might not previously been able to get help.
Ensuring people can quickly and easily receive the right support benefits their recovery and experience. It also reduces demand on GPs and referrals to specialist and hospital mental health services.
Since April 2025, around 450 referrals have been received, including Stockport mum-of-one Lisa Simpson, 42, from Great Moor (pictured left).
Lisa’s story
Following a series of traumatic experiences, Lisa’s mental health deteriorated to crisis point, leading to three attempts to take her own life.
Lisa explains: “During the covid pandemic in 2020, I lost my mum after a short battle with breast cancer. I struggled to deal with my grief, so was prescribed anti-depressants by my GP.
“Losing mum was a wakeup call. I didn’t want to waste anymore of my life, so I ended my unhappy marriage.
“My daughter was only three at the time. Her dad and I shared custody, but managing the relationship and adapting to life as a single parent was difficult. I was also very unhappy at work.
“On top of everything, my friend’s mum took her own life. I found her and tried to save her, which was traumatic.
“In time I began a new relationship, but it wasn’t good for me mentally. Eventually it ended, and this was the tipping point for my mental health.
“Although I hid how much I was struggling, it was the worst time of my life. I didn’t feel worthy, and it was too painful to be here, which led to the first of three attempts to end my own life.
“Thoughts of leaving my daughter caused me to panic. I phoned my dad, who raced over and took me to hospital.”
A thousand times worse
Lisa went back to her GP, who changed her medication. However, the symptoms of withdrawing from her previous medication coupled with the side effects of the new prescription led to Lisa becoming more unwell.
“The side effects of the medication made me feel a thousand times worse and I made two further attempts to end my life. As I felt myself slipping away during the third attempt, I began to think of my daughter. I didn’t want her to suffer, and I knew I couldn’t leave her.”
Lisa contacted her GP again and the timing coincided with the roll out of the new Stockport living well service. Lisa’s GP referred her to one of our senior mental health practitioners Katie El Ouarrat (pictured top right).
Lisa: “Katie contacted me almost immediately. I told her I had nothing left and was going to die on these meds. Because she’s qualified to prescribe, she saw me urgently and changed my medication. I didn’t have to wait to see a doctor.
“She spoke about her own mental health experiences, which really helped me open up.
“Once I was settled on my new meds, we discussed other types of support. I was reluctant to try counselling because of a past bad experience and she knew it wasn’t right for me”.
Learning to cope
Katie linked Lisa with Sanya Amer, Pennine Care mental health wellbeing practitioner (pictured bottom right), to support her with some psycho-educational therapy. Sanya and Lisa agreed some goals and worked through managing emotions, building confidence, and behavioural activation. They also developed a self-care plan to help Lisa maintain her mental health and wellbeing.
Lisa: “Sanya was calm and non-judgemental, and we took it slowly. She helped me understand why we have extreme responses and what level they should be at. She gave me techniques to help me cope.
“We had weekly check ins, which reduced to every two weeks as I began to feel better.
In time, Lisa felt ready to think about work. Sanya put her in touch with Lewis Hagerty, a work coach from Viaduct Care, Stockport’s GP Federation. Because work was such a big issue, Sanya worked alongside Lewis to support Lisa’s mental health.
Getting back to work
Lisa: “I met Lewis for a coffee. He asked about my full back story to build a picture. We talked about the emotional side of work and what had knocked my confidence and self-worth.
“I’m a vet nurse, which is tough. I was at a fork in the road whether to stay in the field or not. My gut was not to turn my back on the profession I love, but Lewis advised me not to jump into anything.
“When I saw a vet nurse job advertised, he advised me to go for the interview but not to feel any pressure. I was in bits before the interview, but he offered lots of support.
“We met after my interview, which went well and felt right. He was really chuffed. I wanted to take a month gap before starting the new job, but he advised it’d risk damaging my confidence. He was right.
“I took a bit of time with my daughter before starting my new job in July and I’ve not looked back. I’m now working in the right practice with a team who are supportive, positive and share my love of animals. This journey has made me more empathetic and better at my job.
“I wouldn’t be here without Katie, she started off my journey and opened up a completely different world. Sanya is my guardian angel. She’s incredible and I can’t believe she exists for free on the NHS. And Lewis is brilliant to work with; he’s chilled, supportive and really cares. He’s my cheerleader. I’m also lucky to have a small circle of friends and family, who have been fabulous.
“Previously I had no hope and couldn’t see a future. But I’m now in a good place. I feel positive and excited about putting some dreams and plans in place. I promised myself I’m going to start living this year, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
Lisa's advice
“My advice to others is that no one can say when you will feel better. But all I can say is STAY! For one more night and one more day - STAY.
“Sleep the night away if you need to. If you wake in the morning and it still feels awful, sleep the day away. Repeat as many times as you need to. Take the temporary option when it’s all just too painful to live. Until one day you feel better, or you meet someone who will help turn your life around like I have.”
Clinician quotes
Katie El Ouarrat, Pennine Care senior mental health practitioner, said: “Lisa worked so hard to build her confidence and take small, positive steps forward, even when it wasn’t easy. With the right medication, support, and space to rebuild her confidence, she’s shown incredible resilience.
“Seeing her hopeful and excited about the future is a reminder of why we do this work - and just how powerful working together to provide the right care, at the right time can be.”
Lewis Hagerty, work coach from Stockport’s WorkWell, part of Viaduct Care, added: “Work was a really important part of Lisa’s recovery journey, but it was also a huge source of worry. Together we explored options at a pace that felt safe, helping her rebuild confidence and trust in herself. Seeing her return to a role she loves is fantastic. I’m delighted to see her thriving again, personally and professionally.”
How to get help
People can be referred to Stockport living well service via their GP, or a health, social care, or voluntary, community and social enterprise professional.
People struggling with their health at work can visit the WorkWell website to self-refer.