Sarah's story

Through the UK Trauma Council (UKTC), an Anna Freud project, Sarah has shared her own experiences to improve support for children and young people dealing with the impacts of trauma. Working with the UKTC inspired her to join the NHS where she is working as a wellbeing practitioner, supporting people with anxiety and depression. 

Content warning: mentions of abuse and suicide  

“When I was a child, I experienced abuse which had a major impact on my mental health and wellbeing, particularly as I became a teenager. It affected my mood, self-esteem and relationships, and I became depressed and suicidal.    

“It wasn’t until university someone labelled what happened to me as abuse. At the time, I thought it was something everyone went through. This realisation was a tipping point, and I really struggled with it. I was suddenly someone who had been abused and I hadn’t thought of myself that way before. The flashbacks got worse, and I couldn’t sleep because of the nightmares, so I became very depressed again. That was when my recovery started, which included trauma-focused therapy and medication.  

“Therapy helped me to process what I’d been through; the trauma became part of myself, rather than all consuming. I got to the point where I wanted to use my experience for something positive and that’s when I came across Anna Freud. I was first put in touch with the charity through Autistica, an autism charity, as they were looking for neurodivergent people to feed into their work. I feel strongly about neurodivergent people getting access to adapted therapy following traumatic events that works for them, so I jumped at the chance.   

“Not long after, I came across the UKTC, which is an Anna Freud project. Through my work with the council, I’ve coproduced resources to help others who have experienced trauma. For example, I worked on an animated video – 'Picking Up the Pieces' - about a character called Ali that shows his journey after trauma and what helped.

It highlights that the basics - like eating, sleeping, hygiene, and exercise – might not seem so basic after trauma. This came from my experience. It can be really hard to do anything because you're so overcome with flashbacks and something as simple as brushing your teeth can feel impossible. However, we also wanted to show that self-care - such as eating properly – can help improve symptoms too.  

“I’m supporting Anna Freud’s BBC Lifeline Appeal as they are one of the only charities that really focuses on children and young people's mental health. They promote the importance of early intervention and prevention, and that's a message that I wish people had when I was young.  

“My experience with Anna Freud, particularly through working with the UKTC, has also inspired me to work in mental health. Earlier this year, I became an Assistant Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in the NHS where I support people with anxiety and depression, which has been incredibly fulfilling.” 

Anna Freud's BBC Lifeline Appeal

Watch our BBC Lifeline Appeal and donate to help us ensure all children, young people and families get the right mental health support at the right time. 

Watch and donate to our BBC Lifeline Appeal

Find out more 

The UK Trauma Council (UKTC) is an Anna Freud project that exists to improve the help children and young people receive following potentially traumatic experiences. They do this by developing evidence-informed resources, guidance, webinars, and trainings, co-produced with young people with lived-experience of trauma – like Sarah - as well as professionals, communities, families and caregivers.   

About Anna Freud 

Anna Freud is a mental health charity and we’ve been supporting children and young people for over 70 years. We listen to and learn from their diverse voices, and integrate this with learnings from our science and practice to develop and deliver mental health care. This holistic approach has world-changing potential – our training, schools support, networks, partnerships and resources equip those who impact children and young people’s lives with the knowledge and skills to support their mental health. 

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