Able Futures Case Studies

Case Study: Florence

"I heard about Able Futures through the Staff Disability Network here at Lancaster University. I struggle with anxiety and depression and had recently started looking into getting professional support for my mental health. I had heard a mix of experiences regarding the EAP, however, I struggled to access their services as making phone calls is a trigger for my anxiety. After being given some information on Able Futures, I looked up their website and found that I could make initial contact by applying online (using this link applying online).

"The online form asks for your Full name, Postcode, Email and a telephone number. It then has a few questions you go through which are:

• Where did you hear about us?
• Are you an apprentice?
• To access the Able Futures service, you must be 16 or over, live in Great Britain and be in employment, whether as an employed or self-employed person. Please tick this box to confirm you meet these criteria. This list is not exhaustive and it is ultimately up to the Department for Work and Pensions Access to Work Mental Health Support Service adviser to determine eligibility. You then have the option to select ‘Employed’ or ‘Self-employed’.
• Tick which condition(s) you most identify with (there is a list of a mix of issues/mental health conditions and there is no limit to how many you can tick).
• They will then ask you to select your preferred method of contact (email, phone, text etc.)

"I filled in my online application on Monday 4th March. I said I was happy to be contacted by either email, phone or text.

"On the 5th March, I got a call from Able Futures, where they explained they had received my application and needed to confirm the details I had submitted with me (as they have to check your eligibility). During this call, I didn’t have to speak about why I wanted to access the service at all, only confirm that I had issues/concerns about my mental health and confirm that the details I had submitted in my application were correct. They did ask me some more details on my employment (my working hours, who I worked for, and if I was having any financial difficulty).

"They also needed my national insurance number, which I did not have on me at the time of the call. However, I was able to call back the next day and have them input my NI number into the form. This then finished the application process and I was told that I would get an email or a call in 2 – 3 working days to confirm that my application had been processed and to tell me the next steps.

"I received this call on the 8^th of March, where I found out more about the service and what they could offer me specifically. I was told who I would be meeting and arrange for a telephone appointment for the mental health practitioner to give me a call and introduce themselves before we had our first face-to-face meeting. They explained that the practitioner will always come to see you at your workplace at a time that suits you, as the service is funded by the DWP.

"My introductory phone call took place on the 29^th of March, where the practitioner who will be responsible for my case called to introduce themselves. During this call, I did have to speak about the specific mental health issues I was dealing with so that the practitioner could begin to put together my personal action plan. At the end of this phone call, the practitioner confirmed the date, time and location of my face-to-face meeting with her and asked if I had any questions ahead of our meeting.

"We met on the 4^th April at Lancaster House Hotel. During this meeting, I again had to speak about the specific issues I was dealing with and how they were affecting me both personally and professionally. She discussed the steps moving forward. A personal support plan would be created so that we could target the individual issues I was experiencing. I will receive this support over the course of 9 months, along with access to an online portal where I can access tools and resources that are covered. After 9 months, the face-to-face support will stop however, I will continue to have access to the online tools/resources for a couple of months, and throughout will have the ability to call their helpline if needed."

Managing Anxiety and Stress Case Studies

Case Study: Li

"When I started working in my new role, I was struggling with anxiety after having previously been in a stressful job. And, even though I’m a graduate from Lancaster, I was very stressed about fitting in. I’ve tried many different techniques for dealing with my stress and anxiety, but I’ve found what helps most is being honest and sharing. A fellow colleague shared with me that they had anxiety, and they gave me tips on what they had found helped them work well.

"Having them open up made me feel a lot less alone, and made me more confident in sharing with my colleagues what I was going through. Instead of being rejected (as I feared) the team I work with were really helpful and understanding. I could work with them, and be honest if there was something making me stressed or anxious.

"So, I now make a point to be open with people, and I encourage my colleagues to talk about the things they deal with because it’s a lot easier to deal with when you’re working through it together."

Case Study: FST Staff Member

"Since I came back from being off with work-related stress, I make a point of taking getting away from my desk and taking a proper lunch break. I keep a change of clothes and trainers at work and I head out into the woods and take some time for me. I listen to music or just practice mindful walking, noticing my surroundings. I organise walking lunches to catch up with friends, walking meetings, and team walks, and we all benefit." FST staff member.

View the Be Active Page

Managing Anxiety and Stress Case Studies

Case Study: FHM Professional Services Staff Member

"I’ve lived long-term with the challenges of depression with a manic element. A key change I made was joining the sports centre with a gold membership then upgrading to platinum to take advantage of all the free classes. I’d always sworn I’d never run unless I was being chased and I’d never go to a gym. I actually started both – I found a great running app that made running a fun adventure. The woodland trail is a brilliant trail to run at lunchtime – or in winter at the end of the day with a headtorch…

"The gym has great classes and facilities – one of the best for getting through sometimes bleak dark winter months is to take a look at the ways other cultures at northern latitudes cope with long, dark and cold days. The sauna is a core part of other cultures and I find has one of the biggest influences on my mental health through winter. Getting really, really hot then having the shock of the cold shower and back in to the heat gives a surge of endorphins that can lift a day out of the damp and dark and leaving the sauna is one of the few times I genuinely hope it actually will be cold and wet outside (which it invariably is)!"

View the Be Active Page

Using Books To Improve Wellbeing Case Studies

Case Study: Harriet

"I have just finished reading The Chimp Paradox... Personally, this book has given me so much. My boyfriend suggested it when he saw me struggling with my emotions and it’s given me a real sense of focus and perspective. The chimp paradox is a simple yet effective model to follow on one of the most complex of issues.. your mind! This book has been my life toolkit on moving forward with the things that matter to me.

One of the many key learning points I took away from this book was to stop and consider not only what I am going to do but how my chimp will feel when I do it. I would consistently have a to do list or plan everything to the finest detail but not stop to think ‘How will I deal with stress?’ or ‘What impact will this have on the way I feel?’ It is available to borrow from the Library."

View the Books & Self-Analysis Tools Page