With more than 75 years’ experience in the employability sector, we understand the concerns and challenges faced by many. Through our delivery of the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, we have already helped more than 39,000 people with anxiety, depression and stress, to stay in or return to work.
Following a traumatic incident in her personal life, Marie, Area Manager for Southeastern Trains, started to feel unable to cope at work.
Struggling to focus or concentrate, she experienced extreme anxiety. She started having nocturnal panic attacks, five to six times through the night, which left her exhausted.
The turning point
In February 2024, a colleague of Marie’s suggested she contact the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service. Through the service, she could access up to nine months of confidential and tailored mental health support.
Marie explained: “My life had been thrown upside down. I was on a rollercoaster and unable to get off. Everything that was going on at home impacted my mental health and I was lucky if I slept an hour each night. The total lack of sleep prevented me being able to concentrate on anything. I didn’t know which way to turn.
“At work we recommend Maximus to colleagues who are struggling. But when you’re in that situation yourself, you don’t think clearly. So, it took a friend suggesting I contact the service myself for support, for me to do it. The process was so easy and I was contacted within two days of completing an online form.”
Workplace mental health support
Marie started to work with Ruairidh (Rudy) MacGregor, her Mental Health Support Service (MHSS) Coach, who provided her with links to online advice and guidance about how to manage her mental health in addition to self-help tools.
She continued: “My employer was very supportive enabling me to work from home for about six months. There was never any pressure for me to return to the office, but I felt I needed to go back.
“Rudy was personable and friendly and made a huge difference to me returning to work. He provided me with the tools to help me break the cycle, giving me the ability to talk openly and freely, offering me advice and guidance.
“Each session was useful. I would tell Rudy how I was feeling in terms of my mental health and physical symptoms, and we would naturally talk about the links, services, health and self-help tools that are available to me.”
Positive change
Within two months, Marie’s panic attacks began to ease, reducing on a daily basis.
“I went from five or six panic attacks a night to maybe one or two which then progressed to having a night or two with no panic attacks at all and it was a huge relief.”
Acknowledging that without the support from Rudy and Maximus, she would have ended up long-term sick, Marie said: “Rudy gave me the validation to not be okay and he made me feel normal. The support I received from the service has been first class; it was constructive and positive and without it I would absolutely have been long-term sick.
Following nine months of support from the Access to Work Mental Health Support Service, Marie has now learned how to effectively manage her mental health.
She reflected: “I recognise the triggers and I’m learning to live again. It’s exciting, the service has changed my life; it’s changed my world. It’s different but I can happily and healthily live with the new me, thanks to Maximus!”
