Our Impact

“I have been with Dayspring for a few years now, with two separate children, and I have absolutely no idea where I’d be without the support I've received. When I’d finished with [DHB] Maternal Mental Health, I felt abandoned and lost. The support seemed to just stop, and I didn’t really know what to do after that, but I was lucky I had the support of Dayspring to help pick up those pieces quickly.

I can’t even imagine how I would have coped without the support I received, in fact, I don’t even know if I would be here today if it weren’t for the love, care and support that I got from Dayspring. Before my leg injury, my favourite thing to do was the exercise morning, even when I didn’t feel like going, I felt like I had a little cheerleading squad motivating me and I would always feel glad I got there to participate. Having the opportunity to meet other mums who were also struggling gave me a sense of understanding that I wasn’t alone.

Being able to access services like counselling with both Liz and Jane have been invaluable opportunities for support and growth that I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to utilize. Even something as simple as the cup of tea I’m always offered before my appointments make a difference to my days, filling my cup emotionally and literally with the best tea.

On top of all of that, having the one-on-one support that I had from (my Dayspring Maternal Mental Health Community Support Worker) Kim was - some days - the only reason I got out of bed. I’ve never felt more supported by any person in my life, than by Kim, even when I could barely find the energy to answer the door.

Setting goals was a massive change to my life but it helped, even when I didn’t feel like setting goals - I learned how to keep myself accountable. But more than that, I learned how to love life again, even on days when the gloomy cloud hovered over me. I knew that even if all I could do was cry and vent, I knew Kim would always listen and I would always feel even a fraction better than I did before she arrived.

If I could see a side by side snapshot of my life from before Dayspring took me on and now, I wouldn’t even recognise myself, being lost in the rollercoaster of motherhood, not knowing how to look after myself or how to cope with anything meant that I was just a shell of myself.

Slowly but surely, I rebuilt myself, with the tools Dayspring had for me to use. I owe so much to Dayspring - and [Dayspring counsellors] Liz and Jane and especially [Dayspring Maternal Mental Health Community Support worker] Kim - for helping me through the gloomy cloud, for helping me gain the skills I needed to make sure my cup keeps filling up, and to fill my cup for me when I’m struggling to do it myself.

Dayspring is like home, and I couldn’t imagine being the person I am today without it.”