Shaw Trust Offers Life Line To Help Local People Stay In Work

After decades struggling to stay in work despite mental health problems, Grimsby man Roger Holt has at last found the support he needs.

Thanks to national Charity Shaw Trust's unique Staying Well in Work project, Roger and around 20 others in the Grimsby area are getting the help they need to cope with problems which affect one in four people during their working life.*

"My job is very important to me and Shaw Trust has been vital in helping me stay in work," said Roger 47, a civil servant who works for Revenue and Customs in Grimsby.

"I know I'm better off in work in a routine and busy but my anxiety problems mean in the past I have found it very stressful so have become ill and been unable to continue," he added.

Roger has been dogged by mental ill health since he suffered a breakdown aged only 15, when he was hospitalised with acute anxiety. Throughout his working life ever since under pressure of any kind his anxiety returns.

Through the three year project funded by North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, Shaw Trust's Mark Silvester is providing Roger with exactly the support, counselling and practical help he needs.

"This is such an exciting project it's the way forward," said Mark, an experienced counsellor who has worked with the Trust for seven years.

"I focus on keeping people in work and without my help they might be off sick for long periods or would never go back.

"People from all walks of life sit in front of me desperate to carry on with their job and terrified of losing control of everything they've struggled to achieve.

"Thanks to this project now they don't have to struggle through it alone. I can help them and all of them tell me this is the first free help they have ever had," said Mark.

In his seven years experience working in the Grimsby area, Mark believes he has seen the numbers of people suffering depressive illnesses in the workplace increase by at least 30 per cent.

Mark is well aware of the stigma attached to suffering any mental health problems and praises Roger's employers for being flexible and understanding.

"Sadly there is still a real shame attached to mental health problems but there are many people in the work place who are stressed and anxious and need someone to talk to. People need an outlet because bottling up problems only makes them worse.

"Once people go off work on long term sick leave it is far more difficult to return to work because they lose confidence, become more frightened and can become too unwell to ever go back.

"I offer a non clinical, stress-free environment where I build up trust and an open relationship with people over a long period of time.

"I work in absolute confidence and alongside employers to create an understanding of the problems their employees face.

"Both employees and employers need to understand that as a society we need to work to a better understanding of mental health problems in the workplace and that there is no longer any need to suffer in silence," Mark said.

For more information about the project call Mark Silvester on 01472 311039.

*Mental Health and the UK Economy

Editors Notes

1. Shaw Trust is launching a free web resource in April, to provide employers with the help and guidance they need to support employees with mental ill health. For more information log on to the website at www.shaw-trust.org.uk/mentalhealth

2. For further details, please contact Shaw Trust Communication Manager Helen Durnion on 18002 01642 371791 or Becky Gammon on 07779 784901 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

3. Shaw Trust is a national charity which for 25 years has helped people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.

4. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects

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