Naomi Brown

Sensitive content – the following story contains references to physical, mental and emotional abuse.

Studying with The Open University (OU) helped Naomi Brown realise that she wanted to be her own boss, giving her a new purpose to set up a business to support people like herself who have experienced trauma and mental health challenges.

Before studying with the OU in Scotland, Naomi thought studying for a degree would never be an option for her, commenting: “I had intellect but not much belief in myself.”

She explains: “I grew up in a toxic and volatile home. I witnessed and endured a lot of anger and abuse, which was physical, mental and emotional. I was told daily I was stupid and I was a mistake, as well many other cruel words and actions.”

Naomi says she was considered a “bad child” at school because of her behaviour and truancy, leading to her being suspended multiple times, and eventually being asked to leave school in fourth year – despite having good grades.

Between the ages of 17 and 24, she shares: “I was homeless twice, had terrible mental health, drank and partied to cope, and struggled to hold a job down.

“I never anticipated I would hold a degree at that point in my life. But it is incredible what we are capable of when we hold ourselves accountable that something isn’t working in our life because of our actions and experiences.”

‘Reducing stigma of mental illness’

Now aged 36 and living in Aberdeenshire, Naomi has achieved a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Business Management (Leadership Practice), has a young son and has become an entrepreneur, setting up her business Fulfil-Ment Aberdeen providing counselling services and psychotherapy, hypnotherapy, mental health coaching and youth work.

Having received support from OU support services to manage anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder due to the turbulence experienced in her early adulthood, she now helps other OU students through mental health coaching referrals.

Sharing experiences can really help reduce the stigma of mental illness.”

Recently, she has developed a pilot youth mental health initiative aimed at 13 to 17 year olds in Aberdeen, called ‘Zen Den for Kids’, delivered in partnership with Aberdeen City Council’s Youth Horizons Project.

Discussing the importance of talking openly about mental health, Naomi says: “Sharing experiences can really help reduce the stigma of mental illness, though feeling comfortable enough to share with someone you trust is equally important. 

“Sometimes when we share things with our family or friends, we worry what they will think or we don’t want to burden them with our problems, so we bottle things up.

“That’s why places like my organisation and counselling services exist to offer a safe space for people to explore those feelings in an impartial and reassuring space. I personally found therapy essential for bringing change to my own mental health.”

‘Built my understanding of entrepreneurship’

Naomi admits that when she started her degree, “I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do”.

However, as her studies progressed, she says: “My degree began to give me a solid and deeper understanding of how businesses operate, as well as how to become effective as a manager and team player within whatever role I found myself in.”

Naomi adds: “Doing a degree and working full-time 40 hours a week was certainly a challenge but having no one other than myself to support me, I had to make it work and push on.

The Open Enterprise Network has been really useful in opening up funding and networking opportunities for my business.”

“As time went on, I realised with my studies progressing that I really loathed working for someone else. 

“My studies helped build my understanding of entrepreneurship and to pursue that dream, no matter how hard it was.”

Naomi has since become a member of the OU in Scotland’s Open Enterprise Network aimed at supporting OU students, staff and recent alumni to become entrepreneurs and grow their businesses.

She says this has “been really useful in opening up opportunities in respect of funding and networking for my business”.

Having received her degree, Naomi concludes: “It felt surreal, achieving this one big goal and aspiration I’d had for a very long time.

“I spent most of Act One of my life believing things would never improve. In hindsight, I did it for me to start with, but now I have done it for a better life for my son and I feel very proud.”