"I heard about Able Futures through the Staff Disability Network here at Lancaster University. I struggle with anxiety and depression and had recently started looking into getting professional support for my mental health. I had heard a mix of experiences regarding the EAP, however, I struggled to access their services as making phone calls is a trigger for my anxiety. After being given some information on Able Futures, I looked up their website and found that I could make initial contact by applying online (using this link applying online).

"The online form asks for your Full name, Postcode, Email and a telephone number. It then has a few questions you go through which are:

• Where did you hear about us?
• Are you an apprentice?
• To access the Able Futures service, you must be 16 or over, live in Great Britain and be in employment, whether as an employed or self-employed person. Please tick this box to confirm you meet these criteria. This list is not exhaustive and it is ultimately up to the Department for Work and Pensions Access to Work Mental Health Support Service adviser to determine eligibility. You then have the option to select ‘Employed’ or ‘Self-employed’.
• Tick which condition(s) you most identify with (there is a list of a mix of issues/mental health conditions and there is no limit to how many you can tick).
• They will then ask you to select your preferred method of contact (email, phone, text etc.)

"I filled in my online application on Monday 4th March. I said I was happy to be contacted by either email, phone or text.

"On the 5th March, I got a call from Able Futures, where they explained they had received my application and needed to confirm the details I had submitted with me (as they have to check your eligibility). During this call, I didn’t have to speak about why I wanted to access the service at all, only confirm that I had issues/concerns about my mental health and confirm that the details I had submitted in my application were correct. They did ask me some more details on my employment (my working hours, who I worked for, and if I was having any financial difficulty).

"They also needed my national insurance number, which I did not have on me at the time of the call. However, I was able to call back the next day and have them input my NI number into the form. This then finished the application process and I was told that I would get an email or a call in 2 – 3 working days to confirm that my application had been processed and to tell me the next steps.

"I received this call on the 8th of March, where I found out more about the service and what they could offer me specifically. I was told who I would be meeting and arrange for a telephone appointment for the mental health practitioner to give me a call and introduce themselves before we had our first face-to-face meeting. They explained that the practitioner will always come to see you at your workplace at a time that suits you, as the service is funded by the DWP.

"My introductory phone call took place on the 29th of March, where the practitioner who will be responsible for my case called to introduce themselves. During this call, I did have to speak about the specific mental health issues I was dealing with so that the practitioner could begin to put together my personal action plan. At the end of this phone call, the practitioner confirmed the date, time and location of my face-to-face meeting with her and asked if I had any questions ahead of our meeting.

"We met on the 4th April at Lancaster House Hotel. During this meeting, I again had to speak about the specific issues I was dealing with and how they were affecting me both personally and professionally. She discussed the steps moving forward. A personal support plan would be created so that we could target the individual issues I was experiencing. I will receive this support over the course of 9 months, along with access to an online portal where I can access tools and resources that are covered. After 9 months, the face-to-face support will stop. However, I will continue to have access to the online tools/resources for a couple of months, and throughout will have the ability to call their helpline if needed..."

Nine Months Later…

"Having spent nine month’s receiving support form Able Futures, I thought it would be helpful to talk about the experience now it is over. I can definitely say that the monthly catch ups, phone calls and face-to-face meetings suited me really well and provided me with lots of opportunities to talk to the case worker about the issues I was dealing with and how I wanted to tackle them. We focused a lot on building up my coping mechanisms and identifying my triggers for anxiety, this wasn’t something I’d ever tried to do before and I have since started keeping an emotion diary so I can keep track of what helps and what things make it worse. This has allowed me to be open with my team, and particularly my line-manager, about where I need their support.

"I would say that I don’t think the Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) approach is for everyone, and there was definitely a point where I realised it wasn’t helping me in the way I wanted, but I was able to carry on speaking to my Able Futures advisor and we agreed that I would speak to my GP about starting medication which has helped me greatly. I can say with total honesty that speaking to my colleagues and being open with them has really benefited me in this experience, as I have felt more supported and found that many of the issues causing me stress were a result of not communicating my feelings."