How Haydon got his self-worth back

A few years ago, Haydon experienced a mental health crisis that led him to attempt to take his own life. It came during a deeply challenging time, when he was overwhelmed by negative thoughts, questioning his self-worth, and feeling as though he didn’t deserve happiness

Thankfully, a friend got Haydon to Adelaide’s Urgent Mental Health Care Centre. From there, he began the long journey toward healing. He saw several different social workers but it was being placed into the DHS Community Connections Program (CCP) through service provider Baptist Care that finally sparked real change.

Matched with case worker Matteo, Haydon found not only practical support, but something deeper: genuine connection.

“The most important thing about (getting help) is openness and honesty and communication. Matteo was very casual and open about stuff. That helped me to also be open around him. It never felt like a support worker/client relationship. It felt like a friendship that supports each other. And that’s what worked for me,” says Haydon.

The impact was life-changing.

“Now, I’m living on my own, I’m volunteering, I’m even looking forward to having an actual job. A year ago, I would have had none of that if it wasn’t for Matteo and the Community Connections Program.”

A program that provides individual support

Each CCP participant receives 12 weeks of tailored support to tackle their unique challenges relating to isolation, loneliness or accessing community services, whatever that may look like. They are helped to set goals, to get connected with services and assistance they would need to achieve those goals, and supported throughout the journey to make sure they are on track.

This looks different for each person. For some there are language barriers or a lack of transport to get to the services they need to help them. Others struggle with confidence, mental health problems, physical health problems or debt. But in almost all cases, social isolation is both the cause and the result of their need for help.

The different service providers in the program work together to find the best fit and solutions for each participant. Haydon, for instance, was encouraged to volunteer at Eastwood Community Centre where he helped with cooking and serving meals. It made him realise that he could do things he didn’t think he was capable of. “The program helped me to get my confidence and self-worth back,” says Haydon. “Now I’m working towards my own personal goals, my skillset, my confidence.”