Many A&E departments have patients that attend repeatedly as a result of physical injuries that have an underlying mental health cause.
The problem is that such patients often present in a condition where they are least able to articulate the real problem so, while they can be patched up physically, the real problem goes unaddressed and within a short time the patient is back.
Peer Support Workers are uniquely placed to spot the symptoms of an underlying mental health challenge and to advocate on behalf of the patient to ensure they receive appropriate support and treatment.
During my time at Addenbrookes I also completed an Introduction into Counselling Course. This additional training was of great benefit in my role at Addenbrookes; it emphasised the importance of listening carefully and actively.
The training, combined with my experience at Addenbrookes helped me to confirm that I wanted to make mental health care the focus of my career.