With its roots in housing support for nearly 30 years, Connection Support are adept at supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. Today however, the charity provides more than 30 different services across three localities, and supporting clients with their mental health now underpins the majority of their work. This Mental Health Awareness Week, here’s how this local charity is providing specialist support in areas that go beyond housing support.
Whether it’s supporting individuals with everyday tasks or providing intensive support to prevent readmission to acute mental health wards, Connection Support is experienced in helping clients pave a way to recovery. For some, the thought of completing benefit applications and attending appointments can be debilitating. For others, the challenges they’re facing may be exacerbated by a complex mental health condition, like a personality disorder. The people, and the challenges they face, are unique, which is why Connection Support offers trauma informed, one-to-one support to identify and address these issues. With no two journeys being the same, the charity’s Support Workers have developed the expertise to provide non-judgmental support across a range of complex issues, from stress and substance misuse to suicidal feelings and schizophrenia.
One client worked with the charity following a diagnosis of schizophrenia and multiple inpatient stays at an acute mental health ward. With support, they found sustainable housing, returned to work full-time and has begun repairing relationships with their family. They said:
“I cannot tell you how much I have appreciated the support and how lucky I feel to have such a willing, kind, caring and helpful support worker. Connection Support has made a huge difference in my life… It felt like I was drowning and my Support Worker was my life jacket.”
Whilst the charity does offer specific mental health focused services, providing practical and emotional support is embedded throughout each of the services they deliver. By encouraging their clients to develop fundamental life skills, they help them to lay the foundations that are intrinsically linked to achieving better mental health. At Connection Support, minds matter too.
