Case Studies

Here is Sophie’s story of how she was able to find stability and confidence during her time with Enable Support Services. 

“I found Enable Support Services following a period in a psychiatric hospital. I was homeless, jobless and far away from my family who live a few hundred miles away. When I came to their housing, I didn’t know if I’d be able to apply for housing in Somerset or if I would have to move back to the county we had left due to hate crime. My mental health issues were undiagnosed at this stage. 

I had a chat with Aimee over Zoom when I was in hospital, and it was arranged for me to go to their accommodation two days later. Aimee briefly explained the process and how the service worked. Although it seemed like my best option, I didn’t expect much but I felt it was better than other options available to me. 

A nurse from the hospital dropped me and my few belongings off at the accommodation where I was welcomed by the staff and introduced to the other clients. I was lucky that there were two empty rooms, so I got to pick which one I wanted. I chose the one with the best view from the window. Everyone was friendly – both the staff and the other clients made me feel welcome and helped me to find my feet.

I had a cup of tea and a chat with Aimee about my physical and mental health and also my income. She assured me that we’d check the next day to see if I was entitled to receive any benefits. 

At 5pm, the staff went home for the day. After being in hospital with people checking on me hourly, it was quite scary to suddenly be alone. However, I was reassured when the security guard Craig popped in to introduce himself. He made sure I knew how to contact him should I have any problems or if I even just wanted to chat. That evening, I got chatting to one of the other clients and we made tea together. 

Over the next few days, I had several appointments which the staff made sure I could get to. They reminded me of the times of the appointments and made sure I would be able to find the venues confidently. They also gave me privacy for appointments which took place in the accommodation. 

During the first few days, I started to feel more comfortable around the staff and began discussing my mental health problems. They encouraged me to tell my most important observations to the doctors who were working with me. This was invaluable and I honestly believe that this is something I couldn’t have done in any other setting.

I was also able to discuss my medication. They helped me to learn more about the medication I was taking and gave me the confidence to speak to my doctor with clarity. I was able to have my medication changed to one that was more effective for me. 

Over the next few weeks, the staff worked with my support worker to find out if I could apply for housing. This took a while but, in the meantime, I concentrated on my mental health. 

I had a real breakthrough moment when I was explaining my anxiety symptoms. When I was talking it through with the staff, I was able to identify what was causing the symptoms.  I suddenly realised I was able to calm my anxiety enough to address the cause. Within a few days, I was able to confidently describe my symptoms to the doctors. I got a diagnosis and the correct medication. If it hadn’t been for all the time I spent talking to the staff, I could have lived undiagnosed or incorrectly treated for a long time.

I spent my birthday with the service, and we had a barbecue for all the clients and staff. This really boosted my morale and meant a lot to me. 

Finally, I got the green light to apply for houses in Somerset and the team jumped into action. They helped me to set up a Homefinder account and showed me how to bid on houses. There was one suitable house, so they helped me bid. It had been a worrying time, but it was great to know that the staff were there to discuss my hopes and fears with me. I got accepted for the house and the staff liaised with my support worker for viewings and what furnishings I’d need. They showed me items that had been donated and signposted me to the right places to get the most out of my budget.

I am now living in a lovely village with my family and enjoying having good mental health. I feel like my life is back together. This outcome could have been so different. I strongly believe had I been discharged from hospital as originally planned, I would have had a relapse and ended up being sectioned again.

I can’t emphasise enough how much Enable Support Services and their staff members helped me to go from the lowest ebb to being a happy and stable person with a good future ahead of me again.