How have our roles changed since the outbreak of Coronavirus?

This is an extremely complex situation and we are trying to navigate the stressful processes under additional pressure. For our team of support workers, it is still business as usual, they are just being presented with more challenges. 

Emmanuel House staff profile: Lynsey, member of the Wellbeing Support Team

Lynsey has found it challenging not being able to see people face to face, but she has been impressed with how her clients have adapted to communicating by phone, text, email and WhatsApp. It has proved harder to offer emotional support and reassurance remotely, but many clients have commented that they have been glad to receive a text and have been thankful for conversations over the phone, so they don’t feel as alone. Our support team has been there to listen to frustrations about not being able to see family and friends and how not being around other people is having a negative impact on their mental health. They have also been able to encourage clients to continue with some therapeutic activities at home by letting them now what is out there. The Streetwise Opera sing-along every day on Facebook has proved very popular! We’ve also been able to direct clients to websites, if they can get online, such as MIND and Imara, which offers specific advice, as well as exercises such as calming and grounding techniques to help with anxiety. Where people aren’t able to access the internet, we have been able to talk clients through some of the exercises on the phone.