Hi, my name is Maciej.

I’m writing to you at an important, yet difficult, time in my life – and for the first time in a long while, I’m writing with hope, not despair.

After nine hospitalisations – it’s finally working

I recently left the psychiatric hospital after my ninth stay. This time, however, the treatment has really started to work. Instead of another cycle of crises, for the first time I’m experiencing real improvement. This is a fragile but very important stage in my recovery – and I don’t want to jeopardise it by lacking basic support during this period.

I am now waiting to be admitted to a specialist centre for the treatment of depression and anxiety. The waiting time is 3–6 months. I am no longer in crisis care, but I am not yet stable enough to fully look after myself.

I have endured years of long-term trauma, sexual abuse by my own grandmother, violence and peer abuse, all of which have affected my mental health. These experiences do not define me – today I am fully focused on rebuilding my life and regaining my independence.

What I already have – and what I’m missing

I have a safe place to live – a friend helped me pay for a hostel, for which I am immensely grateful. However, I lack the funds for daily essentials:

• Food
• Essential prescription medicines

I am currently taking:

• Asentra (sertraline) 200 mg a day – an antidepressant
• Lamotrigine – a mood stabiliser
• Prestarium – a heart medication
• Betaxolol – to regulate heart rate and blood pressure
• Budesonide – for the treatment of asthma
• liver-protecting medicine

These medicines are essential for me to remain stable whilst awaiting further treatment.

A light at the end of the tunnel: I’ve got a job

I’ve managed to find a job – this is an important step forward for me. However, I won’t receive my first pay cheque until the 10th of next month, and it will be around 1,200 zł – an amount that will only cover part of the cost of my room.

I’m not asking for long-term support. I only need help for this short, transitional period – until I start earning money and move on to the next stage of my treatment.

Transparency

I understand that trust has to be built online. I’d be happy to send anonymised hospital records and my discharge summary privately to anyone who’d like to verify my situation.

Why this is important

For the first time in a very long while, I can see a real possibility of a stable life. I just need a little support to safely get through this transitional phase – before I can stand on my own two feet.

Every amount – even the smallest – really does count and brings me closer to stability.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this story and for any support you can offer.

Maciej