Ask an Expert: Mental Health Support Worker
What is your profession?
“I am a Mental Health Support Worker in a residential setting. I offer structured support to those struggling with independence and their mental health, from building individuals’ living skills, supporting clients to appointments, risk assessing and safeguarding, offering emotional support, emotional resilience-building, stress management, and crisis response.”
What is a lesser-known/unusual aspect of your job that the public/average person wouldn't expect?
“This role has been one that has been largely independent. How I structure and manage client sessions is completely up to me. There is little expectation or guidance. This is fantastic because it means that I can freely employ the education and experience I have gained over the years through higher and further education relating to psychology and mental health, however the drawback is that you are very much on your own with how to manage and run your client-load and sessions (for the most part). There is no formula, step-by-step guides/pathways or anything alike outside of Team Meetings and the Assessment templates in how to offer or structure support. Therefore what client’s receive is strictly based off of what each individual Support Worker can offer based on their own personal qualities and ability. This can leave clients feeling unsupported and frustrated. I’d like clients and the public to know that not every service is well structured and quite often professionals on lower-rungs are left alone to muddle through with what they feel may be best. My message would be to, unfortunately, lower expectations (as it’s so hard this side of the fence!) and seek as many additional sources of support as possible, as one will regrettably not be enough, either due to what I’ve described or due to staffing issues. I love my job and clients, I hate the structure and do the clients themselves. It’s sad and a missed opportunity. Funding is low and so is Management/Organisational support.”
What has been one of the biggest challenges for you, working in your role?
“Managing the politics and corruption in this industry. Helping-related work does not just attract people looking to help and make a difference. Quite often I have found that it attracts people who want an “easy ride job” (who then simply coast) or who are, quite likely, sociopathic. Power hungry, status driven, ill-equipped, ego-dominated individuals. And again, it’s the clients who suffer, and so have the staff. This is what contributes to high staff turn-over rates in this field, not necessarily the pay (I feel that is a scape-goat excuse). It is due to monkey’s hiring monkeys and then wondering why the ship isn’t sailing straight. As someone with relevant qualifications with a plan to move forward elsewhere within the next couple of years, it’s enraging meanwhile to know what I know (academically) to then see how poorly things are actually run on the ground. I have to fight against pessimism every day, to be blunt.”
What has been your biggest win in this role?
“I have been able to support individuals who have been seriously considering suicide, and who have taken action to try and do so. This was terrible, frightening, and tragic. However, through simply using listening skills and applying real and true empathy I have made such individuals feel heard and understood. This has contributed to them staying safe and finding some motivation to keep pushing onward towards hope and the life they want to live. There is no greater “win”, should it not be crude of me to call it that. I’d re-frame it as the most positive and rewarding part of the role. Once you see someone with the blackest of pain in their eyes, followed eventually by the glitter of perseverance, hope, and regained moments of happiness… it changes you, fundamentally at your core. And makes you appreciate how vulnerable we all are and how close catastrophe can feel. My message is to be fucking kind. And patient. People really do try their hardest, even if their actions don’t always make sense on the surface.”
What is something society/the government/the public should know, or seek to change, regarding your field of work?
“Funding has been stripped so far back in the U.K for mental health support and it’s decimated the options available to people. And the Tories are to blame for this, frankly. If we want people to stop dying, falling into addiction, perpetuating abuse and crime, experiencing self-harm, ill-health, and poverty then it largely starts with building community and having safety sources and resources in place. We are in a real state where unless one has the money for private therapy or is prepared to go on incredibly long waiting lists for a short handful of support sessions, then help is not available unless you want medication. It’s not good enough. My demand to the Government is to pull their finger out their arse and re-focus on the crisis all around us: mental health. We need more social workers, more front line workers, better training avenues and provision (colleges and Universities can help with this too by lowering the access costs), more availability of services and them being of better quality. We are up against the wall, us workers on the inside, and the people who need us aren’t getting what they’re desperate for. We HAVE to change what we are doing or I have real fear of where things will be in 5-10 years time. It’s terrible, now.”
Something you wish you knew before starting on this career path?
“The real world is not what is described in your textbooks, lectures, or from your tutors. It’s hard and people (professionals) are more stupid and selfish then you think. Do not expect the standards outside [in the professional realm] to be what is sold to you inside from your education facilities. It’s simply not like that. That doesn’t mean that the pursuit is hopeless, it just means that it’s frustrating and that you have to be a strong source of support for yourself. Find support in colleagues you value. Try hard. Be boundaried with your energy and time. Give what you can but do not exploit or exhaust yourself. You, alone, cannot change or fix the world but you can play a valuable and worthwhile role within it. Take stock of the gold and power you have within you, remind yourself of it daily, stay true to your inner self, and remember there is life outside of your day job. Make time to live it. Sleep enough, eat well, get outside, and prioritise your self-care. Make it a non-negotiable. You cannot save or fix everyone (or any organisation!) but you can still make a difference. That is enough.”
Something you’d tell your younger self?
“No matter how reduced you may feel sometimes, you are a badass, and people will need you on this planet. Stay alive.”
Why do you do what you do?
“Because I know how awful it is to suffer with poor mental health, and I want to support people who felt as black as I did. If I had someone helping me the way I try to help others, I might have had an easier ride. Or healed a lot sooner. Life is about supporting one another, growing together, and happiness. Why not contribute toward that?”
One piece of key insider information?
“Certain types of professionals do not have the training, education or standards you think they would. So, make sure you’re good.”
Interview with a Mental Health Support Worker, whom wished to remain anonymous.
Are you an expert or a professional with something interesting to share? Then we’d love to hear from you!
At ‘The Room - Psy’, we are reaching out to especially interesting health, psychology/social science, and wellbeing related professionals (or professionals with something else relevant/exciting they do or can offer), who are open to answering some unconventional and thought-provoking questions regarding what it’s really like working in your field; providing insight, advice, information, and perhaps a unique story. The interview will be offered remotely via email and can be published either anonymously or with credit to you (including job title, name, and with something you might wish to promote/contact details). The choice would be yours depending on your preference/comfort. The goal is to learn about what it’s truly like working as a professional in your field, to inspire students, stimulate debate or thought concerning issues or wins in your field.
If you’d like to put yourself forward for this, please email us at theroompsy@outlook.com with a brief highlight of your current/previous job that you would like the interview to focus on.