It's OK not to be OK
A self-help hub grounded in love and humour A personal project to help one woman cope with her mental health has blossomed into a lifesaving signposting system where anyone can find help relevant to their needs.
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hen Nicky Nurrish was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 around 12 years ago she felt lost and was only armed with a prescription for medication to help with her mental illness. She was given no clear direction on how she could cope with having bipolar. ‘I was lost and struggling and didn’t know what to do about my bipolar. I went searching on the internet and I soon realised that there was help out there but it was all over the place.’ The system for self-help on the internet was chaotic and unhelpful and in 2019 Nicky decided to channel her energy into creating something that has since not only helped her, but thousands of others - the creation of Marbles, an information hub for mental health. Throughout the website, people can find links and contact information for mental health and warrior services; self help services including nutrition or aromatherapy; and even blogs from those with lived experience 6
is different. I “wantMytogroup make sure that when they leave they leave with coping tools and that they are around people that understand - there is no judgement in this environment.
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with mental health. ‘Here at Marbles I want people to realise they are still "able with a label" and “it's ok not to be ok”. I have pieced together all I personally know about mental health from my own journey as well as help and support on here from others.’ Nicky said that the whole experience has been a ‘learning curve’ but would love to see the link for the website given out to people when they visit their GP. ‘There is no way that a GP will know everything about that person in 15 minutes but I feel that Marbles is a lifeline and it gives awareness in a crisis whether that is money or life or mental health. It also gives you information on how you can find information anywhere around the world.’ The website proved so helpful that in January this year Nicky established her first support group ‘with a difference’ which is held on the second Tuesday of the month at Moments Café
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