A CO-ORDINATOR for Oxfordshire Mind has spoken out about his own recovery from the brink of suicide, reminding sufferers there is 'always hope'.

David Bryceland, 50, runs the charity's Benefits for Better Mental Health (BBMH) service for people with mental health difficulties navigating the benefits system.

The former telecoms worker has lived with anxiety and depression since the age of 27, when he suffered a psychotic episode and was hospitalised for nine weeks.

He said: "Clearly something was wrong in my life. I am not entirely sure what happened but a year or two before my breakdown I started to experience confusion, emotional instability and a lack of motivation. This persisted and just got worse. I didn't go to work or socialise, and eventually tried to kill myself."

Mr Bryceland was then discharged to the care of his GP and continued to struggle with both conditions, which affect about one in 10 people every year.

He said: "It is difficult to imagine the crippling effect of these conditions on everyday life.

"Depression leaves you feeling numb and very low. You can't face normal life and don't have the energy to manage even basic things like washing or getting dressed.

"The anxiety cripples you further, so you are unable to even leave your home. All your thoughts are directed inwards."

Eventually Mr Bryceland came into contact with the 'immensely valuable' TalkingSpace, run by Oxfordshire Mind and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

After 20 one-to-one sessions with the service, which offers talking treatments and wellbeing activities, he began a cognitive behavioural therapy course.

He said: "The course gave me the tools to control my anxiety during the day when I am feeling stressed. For example, I now do a 20-minute meditation on the bus."

When he was ill, Mr Bryceland had no idea he could claim benefits and spent three years with no income relying on his family.

The BBMH service is staffed by four advisors but covers the whole of Oxfordshire, and last year helped almost 900 people gain more than £1.4m in benefits.

It supports people making basic claims, wading through forms - some of which are more than 50 pages long - and dealing with 'humiliating and degrading' assessments.

Mr Bryceland said: "After a period of volunteering I landed my dream job. I have been stable for some years now and plan to keep it that way.

"We always need to have volunteers available as demand for our help is so great, and to help run the service day to day and help us campaign."

He said he would recommend TalkingSpace to others who are struggling to cope, adding: "There is now a seamless referral depending on what you need.

"Meeting clients makes me feel invigorated and incredibly proud. Just because you are unwell, doesn't mean that you lose your personality or sense of humour.

"There is hope. You can do this and don't worry if the help you get the first or second time around doesn't seem to work. You can always go back and get more."