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It’s been just seven months since she began her network of support groups.Ìý In that time Mandy’s gone from giving talks at her local church, to running 10 support groups across London - and even as far away as Sheffield.

Now she wants to extend her services to helping children. But unless she finds more funding, her network may be forced to close.

Mandy started cutting herself at just eight years old. She continued throughout her teens. The problem was so bad that at one point she needed 300 internal and external stitches.

But when she did try to get help, Mandy found there was no one to turn to.

She says the lack of available services contributed to her downward spiral: “It got to a point where it got really out of control, to where the mental health team was actually brought in and they did section me… because the youth social services couldn't deal with me, and none of the children’s homes would take me.

“[After that]… things just got worse and worse and worse… and they sectioned me again on a …court order section, which was… horrific.�

Mandy's scars

Mandy’s support groups are the first of their kind in Barking and Dagenham and she recently won the national Community Champion Award for her work.

But the £3,000 funding she received from the local Primary Care Trust has long since run out. She needs a further £5,000 to continue her work and set up her group for young people.

But with the coffers running low Mandy’s not sure she can afford to continue. And, she says, it’ services like these that could have made all the difference in her life: “ My famous saying [was]… You cry tears, I cry blood…

"I carried on for so long because of lack of support… I don't want this for teenagers in Barking and Dagenham.�

If you or anyone you know is being affected by this issue, you can contact Mandy at mandyfenn@onetel.com