Less than two years ago, Lesley reached the lowest point in her life. She was struggling in her role as an office manager following spinal surgery and management changes, and the pressure quickly mounted. Her stress levels soared, migraines became frequent, her asthma worsened, and the constant pain made everything harder. Eventually, the anxiety and panic attacks became overwhelming, leading her into depression. Lesley felt as though she had failed — unable to cope with either her work or her health.
Her GP provided vital support, guiding her through many tearful appointments. At one of those appointments, when Lesley was at rock bottom, he gave her two things: a prescription for antidepressants and the phone number for RCS. It took her a couple of days to gather the courage to call, but when she finally did, everything changed. She never even cashed the prescription — she didn’t need to, thanks to the support she received.
From the very first conversation, Lesley felt heard. The staff understood what she was going through and reassured her that none of it was her fault. She was offered six free sessions and met with a case coordinator who helped her plan her next steps. Counselling gave her the space to rebuild herself and think clearly about her future. Looking back, she realised just how bad things had become, something she hadn’t fully seen while in the middle of it all.
The In Work Support Service helped Lesley regain her confidence and process everything that had happened. When she was ready, they encouraged her to apply for a support officer role — with RCS themselves. She applied, got the job, and now works in a place where she can support others going through tough times.
I love working in an environment where I can make a difference to people’s lives. I’m so passionate about the work RCS do, I’ll talk about them ‘til the cows come home.