Dad gave me a call and told me Mum had been in a car accident. When I got to the scene, I could see the traffic built up all the way down the road. I had a million thoughts racing through my mind, a lot of anxiety and fear. I just tried to focus on what I had to do to help Mum.
Jack's story
When Jack’s Mum was involved in a car accident, we provided emotional support.
The Car Accident
Just like any other ordinary afternoon, Jack was making his way home from work. When he saw his Dad’s number flash up on his phone, he had no idea how serious the call would be.
Luckily no one was seriously hurt, but there was still a lot to do. Since being an adult, Jack’s parents have always called him ‘the voice of reason’, someone to turn to in a crisis.
Now that the family were facing an emergency, Jack focused his attention on handling the paperwork surrounding the car accident in addition to his mum’s physical and mental wellbeing. This left Jack’s own wellbeing as a second priority, and he became exhausted. That’s when he decided to approach his very own charity for help.
Wellbeing Support
I wasn’t sure what I needed at that point, but I know I wanted to talk to someone. My line manager could tell I was struggling and recommended reaching out to the Charity for Civil Servants. I spoke to a member of the help team and felt like I was in a safe space. I felt like they were really listening to me.
When Jack reached out for help, we were there for him. We scheduled an official conversation with a member of our wellbeing team who talked through Jack’s situation and how he was feeling. Together, they worked out a positive path forward.
I felt like I wasn’t making a lot of sense and the person on the other end of the call helped me feel more centered. The conversation was like a bouncing board to help me figure out what I needed and what direction I wanted to go in. They suggested channeling my energy into something I enjoy and that really helped me move past the chaos of my situation. It shifted my mindset into something positive and that’s really stuck with me.
Jack shifted his focus on taking the next step with his girlfriend and moving into their own place together. Now in a much happier place, he wants to encourage his colleagues to reach out for a charity they can always call their own.
A conversation can sound insignificant but the wellbeing conversation with the Charity was a significant thing for me. The Civil Service is full of people like me who are socially orientated and want to take steps to make things better. That wellbeing conversation helped me map out my own feelings and find a way forward.
I now recommend the Charity to all my colleagues and I’m going to become a donor. It’s a worthwhile cause, exclusively for people like me, and close to home.
Some elements of this story have been anonymised or changed to protect the person’s identity.
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