AT one point Sofie Barnes tried to take her own life. She had had a difficult childhood which culminated in the ultimate act.

Thankfully, she survived and is now helping the charity which helped her.

Sofie first came into contact with the charity Colchester Mind when she was 24 after seven years of being sectioned in varying secure units.

While in hospital, doctors suggested her destructive behaviour between nine and 14-years-old – when she went into foster care – could have been caused by a mental health condition.

All the symptoms were there – mood swings, severe depression, rebellious behaviour, self-harm and substance abuse – but it was never diagnosed.

Sofie said: “Once social services became involved with our family, we were put on an at-risk register.

“I’d grown up very quickly and at school they wanted me to be an obedient child, which I rebelled against, but I was also severely bullied.

“At 15, I went to live with my nan, but she couldn’t handle my behaviour and I ended up in a children’s home two days before my 16th birthday.

“My behaviour went even more downhill and I eventually tried to kill myself.

“Nan had taken me to the GP when I was self-harming, but there were no child services so she became stuck.”

It was not until nearly two years of being at an adult secure unit that it dawned on the now 26-year-old that she could have a better life.

It took regular visits from her mother’s friend, controlled psychiatric and medical treatment, as well as gradually reconnecting with her family, for Sofie to begin feeling as though the pieces were coming together.

Now, she works as an elderly care worker – a job she adores and one which has re-established her independence and confidence.

She also became an activity support volunteer with Colchester Mind.

The charity has just rebranded as Mid and North Essex Mind and will now serve clients across Colchester and mid Essex.

About 2,500 people in north-east Essex are currently supported by Colchester Mind’s services each year.

Within the next five years there will be an even heavier demand on GPs and other areas of healthcare, including adult and children’s mental health services.

Mid and North Essex Mind chief executive officer James McQuiggan said: “Looking at all the statistics and the areas we now cover, we’d like to make a more robust offer to the wider area of Essex.

“While there’s a big demand for mental health services across mid-Essex, the issue is, how is it being met? By merging, we can provide service of an equal standard across the region.”

More than 70 staff will service this need, operating from three separate sites in Mersea Road, Colchester, Clacton and Maldon.

Mid and North Essex Mind is one of about 140 local Minds across England and Wales which are connected to the national Mind charity although it remains independent.

The national charity can be split into two main strands – campaigning and policy development – leaving their regional counterparts to administer front-line services.

Mid and North Essex Mind costs more than of £1million to run annually and is reliant on its own fundraising endeavours as well as donations. It receives no funding from the national charity.

Its work is supported by strong working relationships with other organisations such as the NHS, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities.

Children from age five upwards to adults of any age can access their support services.

Mr McQuiggan said: “Early intervention is key because working with young people will reduce the impact on statutory services later on, so our vision is to increase young people’s services.

“We all know funding for children and young people’s mental health services has been reduced which means the unmet need has increased."

Sofie knows the worth of the group and is now trying to encourage others.

She said: “I came to Colchester Mind as a family volunteer but I never imagined they would’ve helped me as much as they have.

“As a volunteer, my biggest job is to support the peer support group on a Friday, which sometimes involves art, which is a positive distraction.

“I can relate to their circumstances a lot and because I have experience with recovery, I can advise them.

“I’d tell people to find your inspiration and then be an inspiration. You also have to have faith in yourself but some people just can’t see it yet.

“I still have some of those past behaviours, but I’ve learnt how to handle the severity of it.”

A priority for Mid and North Essex Mind is adopting a holistic approach to aid service users’ recovery.

It is about the overall person and not solely their mental health diagnosis which can exacerbate some of the current stigmas.

Mr McQuiggan added: “Mental health used to be about just supporting the individual in isolation but this model of care just doesn’t benefit anyone.

“As a charity, we’re about looking at all of the things that can affect an individual and their mental health as well as supporting those around them.”

For more information, visit mnessexmind.org or call 01206 764600.