“Helping other people gives me hope and purpose”
A Peer Worker who struggled with substance misuse and poor mental health for nearly 20 years is using his personal experience to help other people.
Rosario Gullotta works for Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) and supports people who are being cared for by inpatient mental health services at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford.
He knows the right support can make all the difference, having recently celebrated six years of sobriety. He is now working alongside clinical teams to support patients through every step of their care and recovery.
Rosario is one of a team of Peer Workers at EPUT who draw on their own experiences to offer one-to-one and group support to patients, offering hope to others through their own recovery.
He said: “Helping other people gives me hope and purpose.
“I have no words to explain that connection I have with their feelings, and being able to understand them - I really feel that empathy with patients.”
Rosario started casual drinking in his early 20s, which gradually turned into dependency, and then heavy drugs.
He said: “I convinced myself that I needed alcohol to socialise and drugs to escape stress and childhood traumas.
“However, the deeper I fell into addiction, the more I realised it was robbing me of joy, health, and purpose. Slowly I lost any ability to deal with any situation, and any type of stress.”
The turning point came when he was taken to hospital after a drug overdose six years ago.
Rosario sought help and has had support from the Therapy For You service run by EPUT, and organisations including Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Westminster Drug Project.
He moved away from London to remove himself from situations that contributed to his depression, anxiety, and substance misuse. He also developed new healthier habits and friendships.
Rosario said: “One of the biggest challenges in sobriety is avoiding relapse. Staying sober isn’t just about quitting substances - it’s about replacing old habits with healthier ones.
“I have shifted my focus from past addictions to future goals.
“Building positive routines reinforces my commitment to a drug-free life.
“My friendships were often built around drinking and partying, but they lacked real connection.
“Now I have gratitude, joy, a sense of purpose, and a feeling of belonging.
“I have rebuilt trust that had been eroded by my past actions, and my financial stability.”
Giving back to the community has also been part important in his recovery.
Aside from his current role at EPUT, Rosario has also volunteered for Southend charities HARP and One Love Soup Kitchen, which support homeless people. He was also a mental health ambassador for EPUT during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns.
Rosario said when he speaks to people who have substance addictions, he often hears the same things, such as: “I am too addicted, I cannot stop,” “I am fine I do not have addictions or a problem”, or “I know I have got a problem. I just cannot get any help.”
He said: “For a long time, I thought I was okay, the problems were in other people, and that I did not need any help.
“During this time, I hurt different people, and the best apology I can give to them, today, is by changing my behaviours.
“My journey is proof that life without alcohol and drugs isn’t about deprivation.
“If you’re considering making the change, know that you’re not alone.
“There are countless resources, support groups, and people ready to help you build a healthier, happier future.
“Sobriety isn’t just about quitting substances. It’s about reclaiming life.”