A PATIENT from a hospital in Bradford who suffers with schizophrenia and depression has launched a new group to help men with their mental health. 

Danny Cole, a service user on Adarna ward at Cygnet Hospital Wyke, has worked with the psychology team to set up the group, known as Cheer You Up. 

It sees weekly therapy sessions held for men with the aim of improving their mood and managing their symptoms of depression.

Danny, who has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, said: "I have brain damage and have been suicidal.

"I have been in hospital a long time.

"I would say I am now 75 per cent well.

"A few years ago I started a mindfulness book to help me with my chess.

"I was still having 'impossible' days so started a philosophy book to try and learn more about how to cope with those days.

"I then had the idea of sharing things with other people to get well, to help them take on the battle against mental health.

"The group helps support people with their mental health difficulties.

"It uses common sense and layman's terms to help people cope with any problem they might face, to help people feel more comfortable with life, to help people overcome hurdles."

Offering his advice to anybody who may be struggling with their mental health, Danny said: "Keep going and don't give up until you get well.

"Do as many groups as you can to get well - that's the end product and always have that goal in your mind.

"Focus on what you need and it's important to take one day at a time."

Caroline Clare, consultant forensic psychologist, said: "Danny knows that talking is an important part of people's recovery.

"He wanted people to feel less lonely and share different ways of coping.

"Danny developed the idea of the Cheer You Up group to help people manage their feelings of low mood and symptoms of depression - after recognising this was something both he and his peers could often struggle with."

Assistant psychologist Nadia Khan described the Cheer You Up group as "wonderful" and said it had brought about "positive change" on the ward. 

She added: "It has become embedded into the ward routine.

"Most importantly, it's got people talking and smiling like Danny wanted."