There are different stages and levels of support needed. Maybe someone needs just support in the workplace, a friendly chat or are in crisis and need immediate intervention. It could be that your occupational health or GP, can help with a structured recovery – they will have a bank of resources. There are confidential helplines that can provide immediate support, like the Samaritans (Phone number 116 123) or your local crisis team. These can all assist if it’s for you or even give advice if it’s for someone you are concerned about. The important thing is to ask for help. My attitude was to think of it like a physical injury. If you broke your leg, you wouldn’t sit at home in a dark room wondering what to do, you go to A&E and get it fixed.
The BigblueKayak, in part, focuses on dealing with trauma exposure by emergency responders. As such the following Charities deal with this topic. Some have commercial aspects, but also have free materials, call lines and apps. How you reach them could be your choice through your workplace or independently. All I hope is that you can go through the material and you find what you need.
Better Stop Suicide is a smartphone app designed to help someone with suicidal thoughts to press their own ‘pause’ button, and to access their thinking brain, and make a plan to get help. It is available through all app stores or as a download from thebetterappcompany.com
thebetterappcompany.com
PTSD Resolution, Charity No. 1133188, provides therapy for the mental welfare of Forces’ Veterans, Reservists and their families. Treatment is free, effective and delivered promptly and locally through a network of 200 therapists nationwide, and also by phone and internet during the pandemic. Contact www.PTSDresolution.org.
Founded in 2009, and with over 3,000 referrals to date, the charity delivers therapy in an average of six sessions, with 78% of cases seeing an improvement in reported symptoms to where the client and therapist agree that no further therapy is required.
The charity is one of the only organisations to provide therapy to veterans suffering with addiction issues or are in prison – as well as to family members, including partners and children, who may experience the symptoms of trauma from living with a traumatised veteran.
PTSD Resolution has a unique ‘lean’ operation, with no salaried staff or assets – funds are used to deliver therapy and for essential research and public information.
www.PTSDresolution.org
The Human Givens approach – which was developed 20 years ago – derives from the understanding that, when essential emotional needs are met and our innate mental resources are used correctly, a human being will be emotionally and mentally healthy. Essential psychological needs identified over decades of work by health and social psychologists include needs for autonomy, sense of control, security, connection, attention, achievement, status and meaning. Innate resources, much studied by neuroscientists, include our abilities to learn from experience, plan, judge, imagine, relate one thing to another, empathise, develop a moral sense, remember, etc.