Case Studies 2019 - 2020
Individual L:
Individual L self-referred to the Wellbeing Hub for access bereavement counselling following the advice of his GP. When L was 16, he was diagnosed with depression and has continued to struggle with mental health for most of his life. L cared for his parents from a young age; his mother was physically disabled, and his father had cancer. When his father died in 2015 and his mother soon after in 2018, he struggled to deal with the trauma and wanted some support.
At present, L has very low self-esteem, lacks energy and an appetite, and constantly feels a sense of ‘impending doom’. We worked together to create a wellbeing plan that included specialised bereavement counselling as well as joining a support group and activities such as reading and walking. He now feels like someone has listened to him and is better for sharing his story. He is confident his new wellbeing plan will help him progress and manage his mental health.
Please note that these case studies contain detail that may upset some readers.
Individual M:
Individual M was feeling unwell and had felt safe talking to us at the Hub before, so made a self-referral. On the day of his emotional health-check he was feeling increasingly anxious, having paranoid thoughts and hearing voices, which led him to self-harm. He also found the noise of neighbours difficult, increasing his agitation and paranoia. We called the crisis team to consult them were advised to call an ambulance to take him to Barnet Hospital.
A week later, M called into the Hub to thank us for listening to him and giving him the right support. He had been reluctant to go to the hospital but, upon further assessment, they stabilised his medication and he was back home within a couple of days, able to think more clearly. M then felt strong enough to discuss his housing options with CMHA’s housing solicitor volunteer. He said the Hub had not only helped him but given him something to work towards and achieve.
Individual N:
Individual N was referred to the Wellbeing Hub and tearfully disclosed in her Emotional Health Check that she was staying in a refuge and was a victim of domestic violence. Her husband was abusive and her father made it clear that if she asked for a divorce, he would kill her. N had previously tried to kill herself; she was lonely, isolated and in financial difficulties. She did not have fluent English, so an interpreter was arranged through the Hub’s volunteer scheme.
N wanted to look for work to cope with the day to day, so we introduced her to an organisation from her cultural background. N settled in very well and started to volunteer for the organisation. She befriended an individual and they exchanged numbers over WhatsApp. The organisation’s coordinator said that after being hesitant at the beginning, N felt gradually safer and more comfortable and developed in her volunteer role.
N recently contacted the Hub to say she would like to learn English for an employment project. She was happy that she had been referred to the Hub and from her first wellbeing appointment had been connected to the right services that enabled her to work towards her goals.