My name is John Hatsumi ...

... and I am 40 years old. I have been living in YMC8 for a few years now and it’s a really good place to be. Let me tell you a bit about myself so you will see for yourself the difference it has made to my life.

I have mental and physical health problems. I was diagnosed with a mental illness in 1981 and after having meningitis, I had to have a brain operation to put a shunt in my head. Before coming to the YMCA I was living in a shared project house in Splott. The house was on a busy street and we frequently had intruders or burglaries. All of us there had mental health problems but it was only me who tried to do anything about the break-ins. My social worker thought I may be at risk of attack so tried to find me somewhere else to live. The problem, you see, is that if I am hit in the head I could die. I can’t afford to live anywhere there may be a risk of being caught up in a fight. My social worker had heard about YMC8 so made a referral.

I came here then and am still here. It’s a lovely flat. I have the place to myself and there is a locked door into the garden where my flat is so no-one uninvited can get in – except the birds that I always put seed and nuts out for! It is peace and quiet that I need and I get it here. My support worker meets me every Monday and I can talk to her about anything worrying me. Sometimes we just have a chat because everything is OK. I was always on edge before and worried about things – it is safe here and now I am relaxed….life is nice. I wouldn’t cope if I had to move somewhere without any support. It would be good if there were more places like this so other people could do the same as me.

People often ask me how I am – everyone who knows me knows I always give the same answer ….”Normal as usual”!