Severe depression affects your physical self, it’s all interlinked. I had two decades of intense single parenting. I think if you had normal children that might be less stressful, but I have twins with Asperger’s, autism and schizophrenia and I have an extremely dysfunctional family, who are not only of no help, but are a huge hindrance.

I find the centre is much friendlier than other services, both the physical environment and the staff. There is information on absolutely everything, mental, physical, emotional and it’s all laid out for you. I feel that the resources there are fantastic. The people who work at the Centre are truly professional. I think they offer gentle handling without being patronising and they are efficient without being official, they retain their professionalism. They are concrete in their answers, but it’s delivered in a pleasant way. I’ve seen them handling some awkward and demanding clients and they’re very good. I think it’s also very nice that you make yourself cups of tea and that sort of thing, so you can actually unwind when you’re feeling stressed and get a biscuit or cup of tea. You feel, immediately, that it’s not an office. I’ve been to many psychiatrists, counsellors and psychotherapists who present in a way they think is professional but what they actually do is they set up barriers, psychologically, with their furniture in their waiting rooms or their procedures and their mannerisms.

The women-only aspect is definitely important to the ambience. It definitely has a different feel when it’s programmed towards women. Also, in my particular situation – I’ve been assaulted by somebody with a knife who was male – it would have exacerbated my PTSD, sitting in a room by myself with a male in the waiting area, so in that regard, you come in and it’s less threatening. Safety is everything when it comes to physical, mental or emotional health, so the women-only aspect is a virtue of the centre.

Without the Leichhardt Women’s Centre, I’d be stuffed. I’d be totally, totally stuffed, because I wouldn’t have met this particular counsellor who’s just, for me and I wouldn’t have encountered this environment. I think it’s a very personal matching of client and professional, but for me she performs her magic and is an incredibly nice person as well. I’ve met a lot of professionals who do their professional job extremely well but they have personalities of wet toilet paper and here, it’s a case of getting extraordinarily talented service combined with a genuinely nice human being.

My counsellor is an important part of an invaluable team that is keeping me on the planet. It’s as simple as that, because I was very determined to leave. The knife attack nearly killed me and I woke up in hospital and thought I’m actually glad I’m not dead so that shifted me. The positive of nearly dying is that I was glad I didn’t die, therefore my suicidal obsessions or tendencies were, by and large, switched off. It is an intense journey. What I’ve realised, now, is amazing resilience and a very strong insight which has always kept me going.

Leichhardt Women’s is an invaluable resource in the community, the local chat about the centre has always been really positive. Even those women that don’t access the centre, knowing that it’s there gives them hope, faith and support. So, it even just existing is incredibly positive. The women they provide care for truly appreciate what they’ve got. Leichhardt Women’s has modernised with the times, it is adaptable and flexible to the current needs of the clientele. There are a lot of women I’ve come across who I think have serious issues behind closed doors and if they felt that they had somewhere to go, it could be a really valuable tool and resource for them. They need to celebrate big, advertise big, enjoy big, and pat themselves on the back big on the 40th anniversary.

“It’s definitely not just ‘worthwhile’ for the centre to continue, it is essential. More centres like Leichhardt Women’s should be set up.”