But despite taking care of others professionally, Sofie explains:
“Every day is mental health day in my job, but as the theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is workplace mental health, I’m not ashamed to say I have accessed our services and referred myself a few times to Talking Therapies here in Lancashire. It really helps. We all have mental health and talking really does help. Workplace mental health is so important, we’re all human and there’s always hope. There is no shame in accessing our services. I want everyone to know that here at LSCft we can help and you can refer yourself to the Trust’s Talking Therapies.”
Outside of work, Sofie lives with her long term partner and has caring responsibilities for other members of her family.
Sofie added:
“It was when I was about 19 that I first went for some private counselling. I’d not had the easiest childhood and I remember having panic attacks when I was much younger. It was then that I was referred to NHS Talking Therapies. I felt sad and anxious all the time and I wasn’t sure why. I didn’t have the skills to cope, nobody had taught me."
Sofie went on:
"I found CBT difficult at first but I stuck at it, I realised before long that I felt lighter, and I learnt skills to help me cope. It got me through university, I studied film and screenwriting and did start to make a career out of my creative degree. Every couple of years I’d refer myself again to Talking Therapies if I felt like my anxiety was creeping up on me I would top up my coping skills with the Talking Therapies service."
As she got older she wanted a change in direction. Sofie explains:
"I wanted a career change in my late twenties, my friends who worked in health and social care suggested I’d be good at it, I realised my lived experience could help other people and bring me job satisfaction. I got a job as a support worker working for the council with a social care focus. It was from there, combined with my interest in mental health that I realised I wanted to be an occupational therapist, so went back to university to do a master’s degree.”
After working with inpatients in our secure unit Guild Lodge who had an acquired brain injury, Sofie decided to move to a new role as an occupational therapist for older adults in the community.
Sofie said:
“The role works for me as a perfect work/life balance. I’m more contactable in the community which helps with my caring responsibilities and I have to say that the Trust has been so supportive with everything. My managers are aware of my caring responsibilities and my mental health and have been really supportive, which in turn allows me to be a better occupational therapist to our older adults because I’m supported to bring my whole self to work."
Sofie concluded:
"I want everyone to realise they’re really not alone, there is hope and there’s nothing wrong with accessing help when you need it. It’s good to talk!”
Did you know there are different ways to contact us for mental health support or if you’re in crisis?
If you, or someone you know, needs to reach out for mental health support call
0800 953 0110.
You can also dial 111 and select the mental health support option to get through to our teams.
Get the help you need. We are here.
Our Mental Health Wellbeing Line and Texting Service is free and operated by fully trained volunteers. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you, or someone you know, needs help.
Text 'Hello' to 07860 022846
Or Call 0800 915 4640
You can also self-refer to our Talking Therapies on our website.
