Denise Tomlinson

Specialist Nurse Substance Misuse

North Cumbria Community Treatment Teams & Specialist Services

“I work for the NHS and have been working with James (SMMILES project manager) for around 10 months now. James is one of the people who fronts the SMMILES project, brought about to support individuals with co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions.

Part of my role in the NHS is supporting staff in building the bridge between mental health services and specialist substance misuse services, so the two are aligned with each other towards achieving one goal, which is recognition and acknowledgement of the vital link between both conditions and treating them simultaneously and not sequentially.  

 James has been a ‘breath of fresh air’, he is not only friendly, approachable, amenable and flexible, his ethos and commitment to helping other people, by way of his own lived experience, and living proof that you can achieve what you want with the right support, is commendable. James offers that relatability and connectedness that others might not have, which can be the catalyst to engagement and change, for a more sustained recovery.

 James has also played a pivotal role in CNTW’s ‘Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions’ training, where he shares his lived experience; you only have to read the feedback to see that this is the most powerful, meaningful, and engaging part of the training.”

Briony Torrance

SMMILES Project Client

“I had spent 11 years in active addiction, and it finally got me to a place of hopelessness. I couldn’t see a way out, I had tried everything, doctors, hospitals, detoxes, reduction plans to name a few, but I had always gone back to using. In my final detox James from Smmiles came to visit me In hospital and shared his own experience of addiction and recovery with me. I had never spoken to anyone with lived experience before, someone that really understood and it gave me a glimmer of hope. I agreed that day to come into The Well. I worked through the 12 steps and came to realise that I did deserve to have a decent, happy, and peaceful life. After I completed treatment I was given amazing opportunity and I now work for The Well, the place that undoubtedly saved my life.”