FEATURE
‘ Life-saving ’ wellbeing support benefits EVERYONE
Jayne Adamson MBE , tenancy sustainment manager at believe housing , explains why she is thankful for critical support from Alliance Psychological Services .
Advocate – Jayne Adamson ( right ) says the intervention of Alliance Psychological Services was “ life-changing ”. Jayne is pictured with Alliance ’ s Guppy Dulai and Michelle Merifield .
WORDS : SARAH DALE PICTURES : STUART BOULTON
When Jayne Adamson was awarded an MBE for services to housing and suicide prevention in the Queen ’ s Birthday Honours list in 2020 , it should have been a very happy time for her .
Her work as tenancy sustainment manager at believe housing as well as suicide prevention lead in the urgent support team , helping people at their lowest , was extremely valuable and rewarding and she saw it as a “ huge honour ” to be awarded an MBE .
But crippled with feeling like “ she hadn ’ t really earned it ” and struggling with working through Covid , safeguarding vulnerable people , eventually took its toll .
“ I was taking a lot of calls from people suffering with their mental health ,” says Jayne , from Hartlepool . “ It was during Covid and I was taking call after call . I was overwhelmed .
“ I felt completely burnt out . My husband would bring me a sandwich and leave it outside the office because I wasn ’ t looking after myself .” But help was on its way . Her manager referred her to Stocktonbased Alliance Psychological Services for counselling .
The support she received was a pivotal moment in her recovery .
“ My counsellor was amazing ,” reflects Jayne , who has a 23-year-old daughter , a schoolteacher , and a 19-year-old son at university .
“ It really helped me talking through how I was feeling . It was a very dark time . I was struggling , and struggling to admit I was struggling .
“ Everyone has a tipping point . I spoke to my manager which really helped and he got me the support I needed to get better .” With the support of her counsellor , Jayne returned to work after three weeks off sick and put in coping strategies such as supervision with Alliance Psychological Services for Jayne ’ s team , breaks in her diary , taking a lunch break away from her desk and switching off from work after hours .
“ It ’ s nothing profound but something I needed to do and it ’ s made such a difference ,” she said .
“ I ’ m more organised , I know when to say no , I don ’ t feel like I always have to be available . I recognise the signs now so a year later when I felt myself slipping , I returned for counselling and that time I didn ’ t need to take any time off work . “ believe housing have been really supportive . I ’ m a massive advocate for
Alliance . It was life-changing for me . I don ’ t know how I would have returned to work without their support .
“ Mental health and wellbeing is high on people ’ s agendas when going for a new job . Having support from a service like Alliance is a massive plus point for employers .”
Alliance Psychological Services offers bespoke workplace wellbeing solutions for employers , including face-to-face , telephone and online counselling , mediation and mental health training .
Dr Adam Hegarty , workplace service manager , said : “ We are thrilled to witness Jayne ’ s ongoing progress , having benefitted from counselling and supervision while actively implementing strategies discussed in her sessions .
“ Workplace wellbeing isn ’ t merely a perk , it ’ s a crucial lifeline . Jayne ’ s testimonial underscores the transformative impact of accessible counselling , supervision and evidence-based therapies .
“ Investing in employee wellbeing isn ’ t just advantageous for individuals ; it ’ s also , essential for fostering a thriving , enduring , valued workforce , benefitting both employees and businesses alike .”
Julie Brayson , executive director of culture , technology and transformation at believe housing , said : “ We are committed to looking after our employees ’ wellbeing and providing access to professional services is just one of the ways we do this .
“ Not only is this the right thing to do , but we also know that a happy and healthy workforce benefits the homes we provide , the communities we work in , and the experience our customers receive overall .”
Jayne Adamson of Believe Housing .
For more details about Alliance Psychological Services , visit alliancepsychology . com .
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