Coventry University student uses lived experience of depression to support patients
The former solicitor from Warwick decided to retrain as a mental health nurse, after their own battle with postnatal depression
Last updated 31st Jul 2023
A Coventry University student is being praised for creating mental health well-being packs for patients across the county.
Leanne Howlett left her job as a solicitor after suffering from postnatal depression.
The care she received inspired her to go into mental health nursing and she is now in her final year.
While on placement with RISE - Coventry and Warwickshire’s specialist mental health service for children and young people - Leanne saw an opportunity to help patients that were being discharged and developed a pack of resources.
She said: "I very quickly realised how difficult a time that discharge was for the patients, how unsettled it made them feel, and how the presentation of change would make them start to display symptoms of risk, anxiety and depression."
The pack includes information on sleep hygiene skills, grounding techniques, coping strategies and summarises everything they have learned over their time with RISE.
Talking about her own experience of being discharged from perinatal mental health services, the mother-of-two from Warwick, said: "I remember how scary a time it was and even though I knew I was well enough and I was ready to be discharged, I was worried about being on my own and what was next because I wanted that security blanket of the health practitioner there."
RISE Lead Nurse Nicola Evans, from Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust (CWPT), said: "The RISE Discharge Well-being Pack will transform daily nursing practice. It will support in celebrating the progress and futures of the children and young people who have accessed our service.
"On behalf of RISE and CWPT, I would like to take the opportunity to say a big thank you for the difference it has, and will continue to make, in the lives of so many young people."
As well as RISE rolling it out officially, the pack could also be adapted by other teams.
On top of this Leanne’s work has seen her shortlisted as a finalist for the RCN’s Student Nurse of the Year award which she was nominated for by the RISE team.
Leanne added: "I’m so honoured to have been shortlisted for student nurse of the year and it feels like a really wonderful way to end to my time as a student nurse. I really hope I can inspire other students to know that they can make a difference."
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