A BIPOLAR patient who attempted suicide after writing a goodbye message on Facebook has said more needs to be done to address mental health problems.

Former University of Worcester student, Victoria Hays, has spoken about her own experiences after Malvern man Will Evans’ apparent suicide last week after also posting on the social media site.

The 47-year-old attempted to take her own life last summer but was saved by friends who spotted her post and alerted the emergency services.

“They were banging on my door – luckily I hadn’t passed out,” she explained.

“I was taken into the ambulance and woke up in hospital the next day.”

Mrs Hays had moved back to the UK from USA after the death of her mum before being diagnosed with bipolar disorder in March last year.

She said, around the time of her suicide attempt, she was hypomanic and had been released from a psychiatric ward the previous day.

“I was released too soon. I was struggling and just felt no-one was listening,” she continued.

She said the attempt on her life was the wake-up call she had needed and has continued to battle to get a hold on her condition.

“I think what’s important for people who are feeling suicidal is remembering that it will pass, so not trying to fix it with something so permanent.”

She said mental health problems “don’t discriminate” and can impact “anybody in all walks of life, rich or poor”.

“You don’t necessarily know someone is struggling and it can be hard to speak up.

“That stereotype of the mad cat lady isn’t the case most of the time, it’s a struggle inside.”

Mrs Hays, who now lives in Stoke, said her bipolar diagnosis was a “relief” because it allowed her to understand what was wrong and put a label on it – but it wasn’t a solution.

“I wish I had embraced it earlier. Me medicated and not is like night and day. The doctors are still tweaking my medication and working things out. But there’s a world of difference between me now and then.”

She said: “I’m a lot more in charge of myself and I can recognise the triggers, when my body is sick I can do things to stop it. If I’m feeling hypomanic the best thing to do is nothing, not even watch TV, nothing that will get my brain excited.”

Referring to Mr Evans, Mrs Hays said: “Men are more at risk of going through suicide. A lot of that is still because there is so much shame about having depression if you’re a man.

“It’s seen as a weakness to ask for help and I hope that can change.

“It’s a strength, really, it takes a lot of courage to ask for help.”

Referring to her own suicide attempt, she said: “I survived and I’m happy I did. There are other days I wish it had worked but a bigger part of me is glad I survived.”