The NDS Wellbeing Support Service
1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issues every year.
At any given time, 1 in 6 adults have symptoms associated with mental ill health.
Mental ill health is responsible for 72 million working days lost and costs £34.9 billion each year
NDS Mental Health First Aiders
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Suzannah Laws
QUOD and Transplant Research Groups Administrative Assistant
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Nicholas Magrane
Research Technician
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Maria Milano
Quality Assurance Assistant
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Odette Dawkins
PA to Professors Ian Mills, Simon Buczacki, Alastair Lamb and Richard Bryant
+44 (0)1865 221291
For a Mental Health First Aider external to the department
Clinical Trials Administrator for the Department of Oncology
maxine.gauntlett@oncology.ox.ac.uk
+44 (0)1865 617076
Wellbeing Guides are here to help
What is a Wellbeing Guide?
Wellbeing Guides are available to support any member of NDS or Oncology with an array of wellbeing questions or concerns. Whether you're feeling a bit low and would like a chat, or have specific questions about mental health resources, Wellbeing Guides are here to help.
Wellbeing Guides have also been trained as Mental Health First Aiders through MHFA England and know how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance abuse disorders, allowing them to assist a person experiencing a mental health crisis. As well as in a crisis, they are valuable in providing early intervention help for someone who may be developing a mental health issue.
Wellbeing Guides can offer initial support through non-judgemental listening and guidance. They can signpost people to mental health resources, national organizations, support groups and online tools for mental health treatment and support.
Wellbeing Guides are not counsellors and they won't diagnose mental health conditions. However, they have been trained in spotting signs of mental ill-health and can offer short-term support and information, as well as signposting useful mental health services and resources.
SHOULD I SPEAK TO A Wellbeing Guide?
If you feel you may be experiencing symptoms of mental ill-health, Wellbeing Guides can provide a first point of contact and an opportunity to voice your concerns to an objective third party in a confidential, non-judgemental space.
However, Wellbeing Guides do not exist purely to assist those who may be experiencing mental ill health. They are there to offer support to any member of the department, whether you have questions about mental health or are just feeling a bit rundown and low.
Mental ill-health is not a character defect or a weakness, it is simply a fact of life and it can affect anyone. A Wellbeing Guide can be a valuable source of information and understanding. The statistics around mental health show just how common a problem mental ill-health is.
HOW CAN I ACCESS THE SUPPORT OF A Wellbeing Guide?
Wellbeing Guides are listed on this page. They are spread across different sites so that you have easy access to a First Aider wherever you work. We have also partnered with Oncology to provide you with access to a Wellbeing Guide external to the department. All you need to do is send them an email or give them a call and they would be happy to chat. All conversations will be kept confidential unless a Guide has reason to believe a person is at risk of harming themselves or others.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on Mental Health First Aiders, you can visit MHFA England's website.
Interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider?
If you are interested in becoming a Mental Health First Aider, please click here to register your interest. This form should take no longer than a minute to complete.