Insight

My life story is not dissimilar to many others….

I was brought up in a household where it was expected that you did your best and you worked hard.

I learnt a lot from very strong-minded female relatives and others in my social circle about not giving up, always working hard and keeping standards that you were proud of.

Not having a work goal was unthinkable growing up as the expectation from those influencing me was that you must have a career and work well at it.  People around me would say if they didn’t have a career that I should work for one and do better than they did. So, I spent more than 5 years in total training for a career and got 2 qualifications in it. I went into mental health because the mind fascinates me and still does to this day on how it controls everything we do or say and how it is affected by life events.

I have had some tough and dare I say, horrible challenges in my work life but I have always come through because I look at what others have been through and tell myself if they can do it then so can I – I may just have to work harder at it.

I am always aware that the people I have cared for or supported are no different to me in that when we come into the world we all came in as new-borns no one is fully grown so we are all the same, life experiences just make us act different. It helps me shape how I think about and treat people I work with.

I always try to think about how I would want someone I care for to be treated and I live in the hope that if ever they need support or care then anything positive I have done to a resident or patient is paid forward to them.

There is very little that surprises me now because of my experience which may be why I can come across as calm.

So being female at work is not something that I think about but working hard, remaining professional, thinking and supporting others calmly even when my insides are screaming is.

Other things I live by are – always remembering that residents came into the world just like I did.

At some point during my working day I usually think to myself …

“There but for the grace of God go I”

and it helps me to remain internally humble and understand that I am no better than anyone, I am just living life as best in the circumstance in which I have placed myself in.

Author: Yvonne (Mental Health First Aider and Operational Manager