Charlie's story
Charlie was struggling with his mental health after losing his Aunt, his relationship breaking down and finding out his beloved dog had cancer...
"I had problems with my mental health from November 2023 until May 2024. At that time, I was struggling with a lot of sadness in my life. I had been living with my Aunt to help look after her as she had Alzheimer’s and then she passed away. The house needed to be sold and I needed to move. At the same time, I was told by the vet that my dog, Jack, had cancer and it was going to cost £4,000 for initial tests and treatments. This was all too much for my fiancé, so she left me.
"I didn’t know how I would cope being on my own, with a single income, paying for the vet bills and new home costs, or how I would manage everything on my own and working. With this and sorting issues at work, my head was constantly on the go. I couldn’t switch off, I wasn’t eating right or sleeping right and there weren't enough hours in the day. I was suffering with my mental health - depression and anxiety crept in. I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"I decided to talk to the Mental Wellness Champion at work who looked at it through my eyes, listened and let me get it off my chest. He also referred me to Ben for support. Ben makes the process really easy. I chose the email and call back option, giving them a brief overview of what had happened and how I felt. Within a week I had an email back saying I had been assigned to a Case Manager who would call me for a chat to see what help they could provide.
"My Case Manager was really nice and down-to-earth. She referred me to my counsellor and arranged for me to have my sessions on a Sunday lunchtime so it didn't affect my work schedule and kept in touch with me to see how things were progressing. My counsellor was lovely. Every session was in the comfort of my own home and always without judgment, just a commitment to help.
"Slowly, month by month, things got more manageable, knowing that my Case Manager and counsellor were just a call away if things got too much. While staying focused, I found somewhere new to live and decorated/furnished it, boxed up all my ex’s things, sorted out the house for sale, my Aunt's estate, will and last wishes, on my own, while working.
"Ben also referred me to the charity, Dogs Trust, to see if they could help me out with any funding towards the cost of my dog, Jack's, treatment. Dogs Trust recommended I get a full diagnosis so I moved Jack to a different vet and he had a free consultation. He was assessed and diagnosed with a Salival Monocule - he had pierced his saliva gland with a piece of bone or sharp stick and that treatment was straightforward enough and around £900. Dogs Trust funded £350 towards the cost and Jack is a happy, healthy boy now.
"None of the things I’ve done would have been possible had it not been for my employer, Perry's, my Mental Wellness Champion and without the guidance and support from Ben."
