Finding hope again: Northern Trust peer trainer shares mental health recovery journey
- Love Ballymena
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Margarette O’Donnell, a peer trainer with The Recovery College, has described how her own mental health journey inspired her to help others.
For years, Margarette O’Donnell felt she was “losing the battle day by day” with her mental health — hiding her struggles behind a brave face while privately feeling hopeless about the future.
Now, during Mental Health Awareness Week, the Northern Trust Recovery College peer trainer is sharing her deeply personal story in the hope it encourages others across Northern Ireland to seek support before they reach crisis point.
Margarette, who now works helping others navigate their own mental health challenges, said there was a time when she feared asking for help because of what people might think.
Eventually, after a prolonged period of struggle, she was admitted to the Ross Thompson Unit at Causeway Hospital.
‘I couldn’t do it anymore’
Describing the lowest point in her journey, Margarette said:
“I was losing the battle day by day. All I wanted was for everything to be okay and not to have to pretend, until I couldn’t do it anymore.”
Even after being admitted to hospital, she said she initially struggled to see any possibility of recovery.
“I felt no better than the day I was admitted – having no hope, or want for my life to go on,” she recalled.
That changed after she attended an introductory session to WRAP — the Wellness Recovery Action Plan programme delivered through the Northern Trust Recovery College.
At first, Margarette admitted she did not expect it to help.
“At the time, I didn’t think it would make a difference,” she said.
“I was just going through the motions – doing what was expected, putting on a brave face, but feeling no better.”
The moment everything changed
During the session, participants were asked to write down five things that mattered most to them before one was taken away.
For Margarette, the exercise triggered a turning point she still remembers vividly.
“When I looked and saw what was left and what was missing, I quickly realised that I did have hope,” she explained.
“This was the moment I realised I wanted things to change, I did have hope and my hopes were worth fighting for.”
From that point onward, she said her outlook slowly began to shift.
“This is when everything started to change for me,” she said.
“The Recovery College brought hope back into my life.”
Turning lived experience into support for others
Margarette continued attending a range of Recovery College courses designed to help people better understand and manage their mental health.
The Recovery College provides educational programmes focused on wellbeing, resilience, recovery, and practical coping strategies for people across the Northern Trust area.
As her confidence grew, Margarette decided she wanted to use her own lived experience to support others facing similar struggles.
She first began volunteering before later successfully applying for a permanent role as a Peer Trainer with the college.
Seven years later, she says the role has transformed her life.
“Seven years on and I am loving every moment of it,” she said.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am to the Recovery College and mental health professionals who have supported me on my journey.”
Today, Margarette speaks openly about her experiences without shame or stigma.
“My name is Margarette. I am a Peer Trainer at the Recovery College, and I have lived experience of mental health challenges.”
Support available across the Northern Trust area
The Northern Trust Recovery College continues to offer a broad range of courses aimed at helping people build confidence, develop coping skills, and support both their own wellbeing and that of others.
Margarette believes the college’s recovery-focused approach can help people rediscover hope, even during their darkest moments.
“The College invites us all to learn how to support ourselves and others through challenges,” she said.
“Every experience is unique but together, we learn the tools we need.”
People across the Northern Trust area can find out more about available courses and support services by contacting the Recovery College directly.
Contact details:
• Telephone: 028 9441 3449
Mental health charities and healthcare professionals continue to encourage people struggling with their mental wellbeing to seek support early, with campaigns like Mental Health Awareness Week aiming to challenge stigma and remind people they are not alone.
