NANTWICH musician Jay Robinson says support from local mental health services took him from the brink of suicide to soulful song-writing.

Jay has Asperger’s Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

When struggling to find work in the years following school, Jay also battled against severe depression and alcoholism.

During this time Jay turned to music and with help from staff at Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), the 36-year-old has now recorded his first album, entitled ‘Midnight Streets’.

Jay said: “My Asperger’s and OCD mean that I often think at 100 miles per hour, but struggle to communicate in social groups.

“These traits, combined with depression and alcoholism, led to a three-year period where I was causing trouble and thinking suicidal thoughts on a daily basis.

“Music has helped tidy the mess in my mind, and I honestly think I wouldn’t be here today if I wasn’t able to express myself through my song-writing.”

Occupational therapy with CWP improved Jay’s confidence and communication skills.

Shortly after this care, Jay began attending one of the Trust’s Recovery Colleges, which provide relaxed, social settings for people to be creative and learn new skills as part of their recovery.

Jay was so impressed with the support he received that he has since joined the team at Crewe and Winsford Recovery College as a volunteer.

Jay said: “The staff at CWP are fantastic. The occupational therapy team provided me with life-changing care and I’ve really benefitted from a number of courses at the Recovery College.

“The Recovery College recognises that everyone has some sort of secret talent so they encourage people to look within themselves, to think positively and to get creative.

This mind-set has inspired me to volunteer because I want to help others in the same way that CWP has helped me.”

CWP has a number of Recovery Colleges across Cheshire and Wirral. To find out more about CWP Recovery Colleges, and to listen to music from ‘Midnight Streets’, search ‘Jay Robinson’ at www.cwp.nhs.uk