NHS launch new wellbeing service for health and social care staff in Milton Keynes

Ben Hawkins has been working for the Ambulance Service for four years, starting off as a volunteer.

But 10 months ago he reached as dark a place as you can reach. He was struggling with his mental health and if it wasn't for a friend, he wouldn't be here today.

Ben's story is becoming a concerningly familiar one in the NHS.

The unprecedented difficulties NHS, social care and other key workers face working on the coronavirus frontline means others may be struggling with similar mental health pressures.

This is why a new Keeping Well Service has been launched to support health and care workers across Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.

The service is designed to help members of staff working in the NHS, and staff providing care to others in the community. This includes people working in residential homes and voluntary sector organisations who may need help through any mental health challenges they face during the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

The service provides rapid access to support in a variety of ways, including a ‘live-chat’ where health and care workers can, in confidence, talk to expert clinicians about any personal or professional challenges that are impacting on their stress, anxiety or mood. This could be new mental health symptoms or a worsening of pre-existing difficulties.

Ben's story involved trying to battle through a series of issues that started to take a toll on his mental wellbeing. A tough breakup and toxic social media messages were affecting him internally, but it was a phone call from the brother of a friend and colleague, which changed everything.

Ben said: "Unfortunately, his brother calls me whilst I'm on a training course and said to me, 'I'm really sorry but they've found Luke's car.'

"That's when it was too much and I felt physically sick. I felt like I had let him down. I felt like I should have done more. That's probably something we all feel when something like that happens."

Rather than allow himself to grieve, Ben took just one day off before coming back to work. The day after he took a call from someone threatening to commit suicide.

"After that call I hit rock bottom," says Ben. "I kept up this front, but I couldn't keep up the front any longer, and that's when I decided suicide was the only way.

"If it wasn't for one of my good friends I wouldn't be here."

Claire Murdoch, Chief Executive of Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, which runs community and mental health services in Milton Keynes and

Buckinghamshire, said: “The Keeping Well Service is designed to do just that – keep our key workers well - and offers everything from help with sleeping to more intensive assessment and treatment to deal with the aftermath of your experiences, whether you are experiencing new symptoms or a worsening of pre-existing difficulties; we are here."

Ben added: "I am suffering from mental health. I'm not quite there yet, but I've been receiving help for 10 months and I'm going to get there, what's really important is that we talk about mental health.

"It's not embarrassing and it doesn't make me weak. It actually makes me stronger, because I can talk about it so if you're suffering, please get some help."

Get help quickly

 Web, live chat (coming soon): www.keepingwellblmk.nhs.uk Call or complete an online contact form

o If you live in Bedfordshire: Fill in the form or phone 01234 880400

o If you live in Luton: Fill in the form or phone 0300 555 4152

o If you live in Milton Keynes: Fill in the form or phone 01908 725099