Ellie's story

Ellie’s neglect reached breaking point when she was 16 and her mum refused to clothe or feed her and her younger sister. Ellie was thrown out onto the streets and told never to come home. She suddenly found herself homeless – young, frightened and in desperate need of support. After a few long months, she tried to commit suicide. It was after that she came to live at Centrepoint and was immediately referred to the health team.

Ellie was suffering from depression and carried a huge amount of pain as a result of her mother’s neglect and abuse. She had become a very insular teenager and used self-harm as a way of expressing her deep emotional trauma.  

Ellie told us she wanted to ‘put herself to sleep’ to end the feelings of depression. She talked about the suicide plans she’d made, and how she felt so completely alone.

Since she arrived, we have met every week to talk about her past, her fears and her self-abuse. She uses our time to share her thoughts and try to make sense of her experiences. Together we’re rebuilding an abused, frightened and damaged little girl into someone who can look in the mirror and not be disgusted anymore. It’s a long journey, but Ellie is experiencing hope for the first time.