“I would absolutely recommend the Staff Support service to anyone who needs it, it was such a positive experience.”
The theme for World Mental Health Day 2024 focuses on workplace mental health, to highlight the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace to benefit everyone.
To mark World Mental Health Day we want to shine a light on the Staff Support Service at Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust which does vital work to guide staff through any mental health difficulties they may be experiencing.
The team offers a range of talking therapies, to support staff who are experiencing common mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, OCD and trauma.
We caught up with a member of staff who used the service to find out more about the impact it has made on her life, wellbeing and mental health.
Kate (not her real name) sought support from the service and found her sessions to be a place where she felt comfortable and supported to work through the difficulties that were impacting her life.
She said: “It gave me a safe space to work through the challenges that were impacting me.
“I was given my preference of face to face therapy, which worked best for me and suited my needs.”
She has nothing but praise for her therapist.
Kate said: “She was marvellous, I can’t sing her praises enough. She was very gentle, understanding and patient. She helped me to understand specific areas I wanted to work on.”
Through her therapy sessions, Kate had trauma therapy through eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy. Alongside this more specialised support, she was given techniques that she could apply easily to her day to day life, such as mindfulness and regulation techniques.
Kate was on sick leave for the majority of her sessions, but crucially was still able to access the support. This helped her to be in a better place mentally for when she returned to work.
She explained: “As a manager myself, it was good to know that the Staff Support Service are there to help with your personal life, it doesn’t necessarily need to be a work problem.
“My colleagues were a huge support also, they helped me to fit my appointments in.
“The techniques I learned through my sessions help me every day. It’s also good to know that you can refer yourself back to the service after 12 months if you need more support, so that door is still open.
“After my sessions the team referred me to another service for specific support which has been very helpful.”
The service works on self-referrals, meaning staff do not need permission from their GP or manager to refer themselves, an aspect that Kate thought made the service more accessible.
Following support from the service, Kate is in a much better place and uses techniques she learned from therapy on a daily basis.
This World Mental Health Day, we asked Kate what her top tip is for looking after mental wellbeing.
She said: “You can’t pour from an empty cup. You can’t look after someone else if you aren’t well yourself, so don’t feel guilty for taking time to look after yourself.”
If you require mental health support, visit our website to find out more about options available, such as NHS111 and Sanctuary Hubs: https://www.blackcountryhealthcare.nhs.uk/contact-us/help-crisis