For this year's World Mental Health Day, we're shining a spotlight on the Trust's Employment Support Service, Futures Positive.
Stigma and discrimination experienced by people with mental health issues doesn’t just affect their physical and mental health. It can also affect their training and educational opportunities, as well as their future job prospects.
Earlier we told Sarah's story. After experiencing mental health issues during Covid-19, she found herself unsupported at work, before turning to Futures Positive for help.
For Colin though, employment support came after almost 20 years of mental health issues. Following 14 years out of work, he was referred to Futures Positive by his Occupational Therapist after expressing an interest in finding employment again.
Futures Positive support people with mental health issues to find paid or alternative employment. Being employed in a role you enjoy has lots of benefits for your mental health. It can give structure, meaning and purpose to life. People with lived experience can act as mental health advocates in the workplace too, helping to break down barriers and challenge stigma amongst others.
“Post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic cluster headaches, anxiety and stress left me housebound for a long time” explains Colin. “Without a job, I felt like it had lost a part of myself. I didn’t know who I was or where I fitted in society.”
Following his referral Colin met with Younis, an Employment Specialist with Futures Positive. Younis helped Colin to update his CV and supported him to search and apply for jobs. Although the pandemic meant they couldn’t always meet in person, that didn’t deter them! They worked together and Colin applied for job here at the Trust, as a Facilities Assistant. Younis helped him to prepare for the interview and, soon after, Colin learnt he’d got the job – he was back in employment!
“Colin had always had a strong work ethic and working background before suffering from mental health difficulties” explains Younis. “Loss of employment caused him to lose hope. He felt helpless, like he was a burden on others. [When he got the job] I felt proud of him, of his resilience, his motivation and what he had achieved. Since he began working again, I’ve seen him grow in confidence and optimism. He has a sense of belonging, not only from working, but also by helping others with mental health difficulties. He can also provide for his family and feels a better father because of it.”
“Working again has helped me in so many ways” adds Colin. “From simple things such as motivation, routine, structure to other things like having a reason to get up every day, drive, earning money, being independent and respecting who and what I am.”
Colin continued to work for the Trust throughout the pandemic and recently began a new role as a Healthcare Assistant at Highbury Hospital. Younis is continuing to support Colin in his new role, offering day to day guidance and supporting him to achieve and maintain his long-term goal - to be in a role where he is helping others.
“Securing an employment role is just as important as being able to sustain it, if not more” says Younis. “Once in employment, our clients face an array of situations that they need support and guidance with. Providing support and enabling them to sustain the role helps them to increase their skills and their confidence and allows them to see that their mental health difficulties have not changed their life trajectory. We’re also able to help employers too, offering advice and suggesting reasonable adjustments where needed.”
“I want to do my part to help” says Colin. “I’m now working full-time as a Healthcare Assistant, but I am working towards applying for a peer support worker role. This journey has helped me to find what I am truly passionate about. To this day, Younis still contacts me to see how I’m coping in my new role. His advice and guidance have been invaluable to me.”
Futures Positive work as part of the local mental health teams across Nottinghamshire. Referrals can be made by consultants, community psychiatric nurses or occupational therapists. Self-referrals are also accepted along with a completed risk assessment.
Following his referral Colin met with Younis, an Employment Specialist with Futures Positive. Younis helped Colin to update his CV and supported him to search and apply for jobs. Although the pandemic meant they couldn’t always meet in person, that didn’t deter them! They worked together and Colin applied for job here at the Trust, as a Facilities Assistant. Younis helped him to prepare for the interview and, soon after, Colin learnt he’d got the job – he was back in employment!
“Colin had always had a strong work ethic and working background before suffering from mental health difficulties” explains Younis. “Loss of employment caused him to lose hope. He felt helpless, like he was a burden on others. [When he got the job] I felt proud of him, of his resilience, his motivation and what he had achieved. Since he began working again, I’ve seen him grow in confidence and optimism. He has a sense of belonging, not only from working, but also by helping others with mental health difficulties. He can also provide for his family and feels a better father because of it.”
“Working again has helped me in so many ways” adds Colin. “From simple things such as motivation, routine, structure to other things like having a reason to get up every day, drive, earning money, being independent and respecting who and what I am.”
Colin continued to work for the Trust throughout the pandemic and recently began a new role as a Healthcare Assistant at Highbury Hospital. Younis is continuing to support Colin in his new role, offering day to day guidance and supporting him to achieve and maintain his long-term goal - to be in a role where he is helping others.
“Securing an employment role is just as important as being able to sustain it, if not more” says Younis. “Once in employment, our clients face an array of situations that they need support and guidance with. Providing support and enabling them to sustain the role helps them to increase their skills and their confidence and allows them to see that their mental health difficulties have not changed their life trajectory. We’re also able to help employers too, offering advice and suggesting reasonable adjustments where needed.”
“I want to do my part to help” says Colin. “I’m now working full-time as a Healthcare Assistant, but I am working towards applying for a peer support worker role. This journey has helped me to find what I am truly passionate about. To this day, Younis still contacts me to see how I’m coping in my new role. His advice and guidance have been invaluable to me.”
Futures Positive work as part of the local mental health teams across Nottinghamshire. Referrals can be made by consultants, community psychiatric nurses or occupational therapists. Self-referrals are also accepted along with a completed risk assessment.
Visit https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/employment-support-service for details.
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