Meet the kind Heckmondwike lady who uses beauty pageants, arts and crafts, and volunteering to help with her mental health

The condition is equally challenging for people like Clare Hurst, from Heckmondwike, who has had to live with it since her early childhood years.

Depression is a complex mental health condition and can take various forms. It affects lots of groups including the young and old, men and women, rich and poor. Popular celebrities such as Elvis Presley, as well as famous figures in history like Winston Churchill have even suffered from its symptoms. Churchill described his depressive bouts as “my black dog.”

Clare has taken a unique approach when dealing with her own symptoms, and has talked to the Reporter Series, as part of the Heckmondwike Local Heroes project, to share her story.

She revealed: “I had always struggled with my mental health since early childhood and was eventually diagnosed with anxiety and depression. At first, I did not know much about these two conditions. I incorrectly thought something was wrong with me. The symptoms affected both my personal life and my work life.

“I had a lovely job working as part of a customer service team at a busy Huddersfield-based chain-store restaurant. Yet, I gradually began to find everything so pressurising. It was obviously a frustrating time because I really enjoyed serving others. Yet, I suddenly realised I was unable to cope with the pressures and demands of my employment.

“I began blaming myself initially - thinking it was all my fault. The stress eventually became so unbearable that I had to leave the job in 2022.”

Talking about how she coped with her symptoms, Clare explained: “I decided to remain hopeful and positive. I know there is a silver lining in everyone’s life even though we may not realise it. Every person has some individual strengths hidden in themselves. We just have to search for the hero inside ourselves.

“As a child, I used to enjoy drawing and colouring. The arts always fascinated me. I could easily make colourful beads, and my work was of a high intricate quality! I therefore decided to take up a new hobby after leaving the restaurant job.

“My new hobby is to simply continue with the arts and crafts side of my life. I tend to find the whole experience highly therapeutic and relaxing whether it happens to be sewing, stitching, drawing, colouring, doing diamond art, joining things together, or being creative in various other ways.

“My arts hobby helps me take my mind off things and also increases my self-confidence.”

She added: “I am also staying busy by helping out in an arts workshop at Meadow Green Care Home. I spend a large amount of my time there talking to elderly patients coping with dementia. My character is so mellow that one lovely elderly resident adores me to bits.

“I have also even begun taking part in charitable runs for Mental Health UK.”

Clare has also used her interview to talk about something else which has helped her deal with the depression symptoms.

She said: “I have also been attending beauty pageants, mostly in Wigan, over these past few years. My journey began after I had read some useful information on Google, and the ball began rolling when I then joined a networking pageantry group.

“Standing on a stage with a group of other ladies is an exhilarating experience. To see the audience clapping at us really boosts my self-confidence and I tend to feel like a different person.

“We are obviously a friendly close-knit group of women who support each other. So, I am already looking forward to the next pageant due in October at Newcastle.”

But Clare's positive thinking does not just stop with pageants or arts and crafts activities. She has also found the confidence to start volunteering at Batley Library by serving tea and coffee to visiting members of the public.

“I have become rather popular because of my friendly character, especially with two very vulnerable homeless men who regularly turn up to the library,” she said.

“I am a people’s person, and I always like to put others before myself which is why I love what I am doing at the library. I just want to put a smile on people's faces and to brighten up their day.”

She added: “Living with mental health conditions like depression is not easy at all, but it can be managed by taking some simple sensible steps like talking to a close family member or a qualified professional. Both can give support and guide you on your road to recovery.

“I have been able to manage my mental health in different ways by getting involved in various different activities, as well as reaching out to those who are closest to me.

“But what’s more important is I am still there for others through my volunteering despite having my own problems. So, my message to anyone going through what I am going through is that it is OK not to be OK. You can manage and even control depression.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or experiencing difficult feelings, there is help. You can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 for free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, or you can call 111 and select the mental health option.