EIC Update Tackling mental health
challengestogether By Tessa Ogle, Managing Director of the Electrical Industries Charity
T
housands of people in our sector are faced with difficult circumstances that can cause
alcoholism or drug abuse, oſten leading to mental health issues. According to Drink Aware there are an
estimated 595,131 dependent drinkers in the UK, of whom only 108,696 are currently accessing treatment. In 2015/16 NHS hospitals admitted 8,621 patients with drug-related mental health and behavioural disorders. It was also recorded that each year there were 2,479 registered deaths due to drug misuse. To help to address these statistics and to
provide vital support services for those who are affected by mental health problems the Electrical Industries Charity has created the Employee Assistance Programme, which offers all of the necessary support to help industry colleagues get back on track.
As part of its Employee Assistance
Programme, the Charity recently helped electrician Rhys to create a better quality of life for him and his daughter. Rhys first contacted the Electrical Industries
Charity in 2012 when his partner left him and his two-year-old daughter. On gaining full custody, the council re-housed Rhys and his daughter and the Charity provided a £1,000 grant for household items. In 2013, they moved to a bigger, two-bedroom property, which better met their needs and again the Charity provided a £1,000 grant for flooring. But financial problems caused Rhys to turn to alcohol and drugs, which lost him his home and custody of his daughter. Resorting to theft to feed his addiction, he spent 14 weeks in prison. After serving his sentence, Rhys suffered a
relapse and nearly lost his life. The Charity once more offered support to help with his debts, and he was granted a debt relief order (DRO).
Since September 2015,
Rhys has been free from drugs and alcohol and the Charity has helped with the cost of
updating his qualifications through Able Skills and he has now passed the 2394/95 City & Guilds Testing & Inspection course. He has secured a maintenance contract with an estate agent and been offered a contract with a local construction company. Thanks to the support and financial assistance
provided by the Electrical Industries Charity, he is once again living with his daughter and is well on his way to building a better life. The Electrical Industries Charity is always on
hand to offer support when our industry colleagues need it most.
www.electricalcharity.org
www.ewnews.co.uk
March 2018 electrical wholesaler | 9
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