Hear from the hubs: Ruth's story
Ruth, an NHS mental health social worker. describes how she was supported by an NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub after she fell through the net of NHS mental health services.
03 April 2024
I have fallen through the net, being an NHS mental health social worker.
After a near death traumatic experience, I was left in a strange situation where I needed to seek mental health support myself but ended up been referred to low level primary care online CBT courses.
Knowing that would not be enough, I was really struggling with coping, especially when I have an incredibly responsible job caring for very mentally unwell adults.
It was then that my manager told me about the resilience hub, and one of their team they got in touch with me. They were the only professional that truly listened, and acknowledged how difficult my situation was, knowing I wanted to get better but just couldn't without the right help.
They provided a diagnosis of PTSD, wrote numerous letters to other health professionals and my employer, which helped me get the protected time I needed to get better.
I then started the PTSD group online and it has been a lifeline and significant part of my recovery. The support in between sessions has been gold standard for those days I really wasn't coping.
I can't thank the hub team enough for their compassion and valuable support. I am forever grateful for how they have helped me and I'm ready to get back to work now with a new sense of motivation but understanding of how much mental health can affect people.
The resilience hub is essential for frontline mental health staff, as we fall through so many gaps. Often the services we need help from, we can't access, as we know all the teams as we work with them.
*Names have been changed to protect identities.
About our campaign
Alongside seventeen other leading health and care organisations, we're calling on the government to restore vital ringfenced investment in mental health and wellbeing services for NHS and social care staff.
Services like those provided by Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs prevent staff from falling between the gaps in services and give staff rapid access to the level of evidence-based mental health support they need to recover and remain in their jobs.