Ahead of World Mental Health Day, lifelong Luton Town supporter Holly Hamill was invited by manager Rob Edwards to come along to The Brache to watch training, have lunch and meet the Hatters squad at the start of the international break.
Holly is 20 and has suffered with mental health disabilities since she was six years old and was diagnosed with acute anxiety at 12.
Having faced family bereavements and illness as a child and a tic disorder which means she suffers constant shoulder dislocations, she left school and started working in the NHS, but recently had to stop her nursing degree due to her mental health.
Determined to continue to help others, however, Holly set up her Instagram account – Mental Health & Me – to be an advocate for those suffering with a mental disability, and to provide advice and support for individuals and their carers, friends and relatives.
To help herself as part of her healing, this summer Holly started making LTFC keychains, bracelets and anklets – which she brought along to the training ground to share with the lads.
“I started making them when I was signed off from work and I was in quite a low place. I had nothing, so I started making jewellery and it really helped me to feel happy, and have a hobby so I was distracted from my thoughts, otherwise I was just alone with my thoughts, which was really difficult,” says Holly.
On her experiences, she says: “I was at a really low point, I didn’t expect to be here right now. It’s something I battled with. Looking back it was horrible, but it’s made me realise how strong I am. Even just being here today, I’ve never felt acknowledged or important – and I feel those things.”
After speaking to her heroes, including favourite player Alfie Doughty, Luton legend Mick Harford and our manager, Rob, she said: “It was overwhelming at first, but in a good way. I’m speechless. It’s probably the best thing that has ever happened to me to be honest.”
And to anyone else living with mental health issues, Holly has this advice: “Make sure you talk about it. There is so much stigma around mental health, and that’s what I’m trying to prevent.
“Just because you’re a man, you’re older or you’re famous, you need to talk about it to someone. Anyone. A friend, a colleague, a family member. It’s really important to talk about it and just remember it will stop, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“It’s really difficult to see that when you’re going through it, but I promise there is.”
Please watch the video of Holly’s day with the Hatters and visit her Instagram page – hollyhamill.mh – where you can find all kinds of help and advice, and you can also buy her brilliant LTFC keychains.
Also remember the information that we shared in our special Support XI team line-up graphic on Saturday ahead of the game at Sheffield United.
If you need urgent help, call 999 or 111 (option 2). If you need someone to listen, call Samaritans free 24/7 on 116 123.
