Devon Wellbeing Hub testimonial – the importance of asking for help

Posted by Devon Partnership Trust in News, Recovery and wellbeing on 22nd October, 2024

David Furzey, Admin Lead for the Staff Health and Wellbeing Team at Devon Partnership NHS Trust, explains how the Devon Wellbeing Hub helped him navigate a challenging time in his life and why he would recommend the service to others.

Why did you contact the Devon Wellbeing Hub? What made you reach out for help?

I was feeling a lot of pressure as I was juggling looking after my parents who were poorly, whilst working full time. I needed to talk to someone and express how I was feeling.

What did your initial appointment with a Colleague Wellbeing Practitioner (CWP) involve?

I had two sessions on the phone with Caitlin – an initial chat and then a follow up a few weeks later. She was absolutely brilliant. I spent a lot of the time crying, but I felt safe and able to do that. She calmed me down and made sure I was alright. We then talked through my situation and what I felt I needed going forward. She sent me over some really useful resources, including some Alzheimer’s information. We both agreed that chaplaincy support was the best route to go down and I was then referred to Senior Chaplain, Barbara Carpenter.

What did your appointments with the chaplaincy service involve?

I had four virtual sessions with Barbara via MS Teams. I was apprehensive about chaplaincy support at the beginning as I’m not a religious person. However, Barbara was totally understanding of that. She has a faith but that was never enforced upon me. She gave me time to talk at my own pace and she was brilliant at listening. She gave me pointers and asked questions to help me reflect on things. I felt very supported and understood.

I’m now feeling a lot better so we decided to end our sessions, but she reassured me I could contact her again if I needed to, which I really appreciated. 

Have you been able to make changes to improve your wellbeing since visiting the Hub?

Yes. The Hub has given me coping mechanisms to help me manage my stress levels. I have struggled with my mental health in the past so I had some prior knowledge on how to take care of myself before things get too bad. That’s partly why I referred myself to the Hub because I could feel myself falling into a bad place.

What do you think the impact would have been without the support from the Hub?

I would probably be off sick by now. I’m not sure how close I was to the edge and being completely burnt out, but I felt like I was well on the way. The Hub helped prevent that. They have made a huge difference.

Would you recommend the Hub to colleagues?

Yes definitely. It’s an absolutely fantastic service. Both Caitlin and Barbara gave me space to have a free and open conversation. I don’t always find it easy to talk about these things with friends and family, so it was very helpful talking to people external to my situation. They always reassured me that things would remain confidential.

What advice would you give to people who may be struggling?

I’d encourage colleagues to open up and speak to the Hub if you’re struggling. They are incredibly supportive and will listen to you. It’s really important to reach out and ask for help before things get too bad.

Caitlin said: “David works hard for DPT staff wellbeing himself, and I’m really glad that between us we were able to come up with a plan that was right for him. We always do our best to understand the kind of support someone would find helpful. Even if you’re not sure what you want or whether we can help, we’re happy to talk to you. We know that DPT is a small world and you’re welcome to check with our admin team that you won’t get booked in with someone you know! Our Chaplains are a great resource (and great people). Lots of the people we see choose to speak to a Chaplain, even if what they want to talk about has nothing to do with faith."

Barbara said: “It was a privilege to work with David and to hear his story; it’s so good to hear that he felt heard and supported in the space that I was able to offer him.  As Chaplains working in the Hub we seek to offer a non-judgemental safe and supportive place where people have time to reflect on their issues at the pace that is helpful for them.”

Get in touch:

If you work in healthcare, social care or the police in Devon and would like free, confidential wellbeing support, please get in touch by calling 0300 303 5455, email dpt.devonwellbeing@nhs.net, or fill out the simple referral form on the Devon Wellbeing Hub website. If you are interested in our chaplaincy support, our Colleague Wellbeing Practitioners can discuss your needs and make a referral on your behalf.