Sam was able to stand-up and perform thanks to support from Lanarkshire charity

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Motherwell man who was unable to leave home alone has thanked a performing arts charity for helping him transform his life.Sam Francis has struggled with his mental health issues since he was a teenager but this year was able to perform his own show at the Edinburgh Fringe.The 28-year-old is autistic and developed PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) following the death of his dad, who died when he was 15.At one point Sam struggled so badly, he could only leave the house accompanied by support workers.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android But in 2021, Sam – who has loved music since he was a child – was put in touch with Fool On and he hasn't looked back.The charity in North Lanarkshire uses the performing arts to help those affected by poor mental health, and run workshops in music, stand-up comedy, and creative writing to help people recovering from mental health issues.

They are then given the opportunity to perform at fundraising events.Sam said: “I first started getting into music when I was about 14 and performed my first ever song in high school.

I love singing and I play guitar and bass.“But, after my father died, I grappled with my mental health for many years. I also found out I was autistic when I was 17 which added to my struggles.“I was getting to the point where I could only leave the