Walking alongside the community: sickle cell & mental health
“Our hope is simple: that anyone living with sickle cell, and anyone struggling with their mental health alongside it, knows they are not invisible, not a burden, and that there is a place where they can come as they are.”
-Chiedza & Alice
What we did.
We worked with Angel and Star Care Services to support people in our community living with sickle cell disease who were also struggling with their mental health. Through outreach, listening conversations, and signposting to trusted care, we created a space where people could be seen and supported as whole human beings.
Why it matters
Sickle cell brings unpredictable pain, fatigue, and long stays in the hospital. Alongside it, many carry anxiety, depression, and a quiet loneliness that rarely gets spoken about. Too often, these two journeys are treated separately. We chose to hold them together
Our partnership
Working with Angel and Star Care Services gave this project a trusted home. Their experience in person-centred care, combined with our community roots, meant that those who came forward were not only heard, but held.