Lizzie from Cavalier Health, shares her journey and why mental health goes hand in hand with workforce wellbeing.
As a military nurse, having worked in various environments throughout my career, it became apparent that the difference between waking up with a spring in your step, excited to go to work, or dreading the alarm going off, even though you’ve watched the clock all night, is the workforce feeling valued and providing energy for the work environment to thrive.
I remember working in the Acute Medical Unit of an NHS hospital, as a general nurse. It was lonely, I didn’t feel valued, and I knew I would be working alone in a bay of the most poorly patients. There was often little chance for a break and barely had the equipment I needed to fulfil my job properly, let alone have a support from my colleagues. I dreaded going to work, even though I loved being a nurse. I felt it was me that was letting the patients down, they got everything I had to give, but it was never enough for the managers of the unit.
One particular day, I was alone in a bay (again), with the most poorly patients (again), two were end of life. I felt there was no way I was able to get through this day, I explained to the manager that it seems unfair to be given this many complex patients, when I knew others were having a more relaxed day. I asked for help, I recognised I was feeling under pressure. The manager acknowledged my distress.
I continued, with hope that my day will get easier. It didn’t, my two patients died. I provided comfort for the families and continued caring for my other patients. I had worked so hard that morning; to get on top of all my tasks and offer the emotional support that the family needed. I was physically and emotionally drained. The manager walked in, I felt relieved, the help is here I thought. I was wrong! “We are flipping the bay!” they said – this meant that all the hard work, rapport and support I had given to the patients and families, the work it had taken to get on top of things and my cry for help, was all made in vain. I was getting nine more new patients.
Due to the overwhelming lack of support and feelings of isolation despite my repeated requests for help, I reached a breaking point. Feeling completely unsupported, I decided to walk out and never returned. That was my last shift as a general nurse.
My mental health had declined significantly. I was away from home, my work environment was dire, my social life was difficult, my family were 300 miles away and I felt stuck.
Fast forward and I am now a dual trained general / mental health nurse and a military veteran. I started Cavalier Health in Aug 2024, to provide support and education around mental health to the workforce. Businesses are showing that each individual are valued, they are cared about, they are supported, and they recognise that providing this level of provision increases the productivity of the teams and reduce absences due to sickness.
If you would like help providing a work environment that promotes growth and increases productivity, please contact Cavalier Health.
We add value to your employment offer, attracting top-tier talent.
We get excited about our interactive workshops to provide a safe environment to start conversations around mental health and wellbeing topics, if helps bind teams in the process, we provide 1-1 mental health coaching to individuals who are struggling with certain aspects of life. We offer adventurous workforce wellbeing activities such as rock climbing, walking and art classes and dedicate certain weeks of the year for awareness days with the aim of reducing the stigma attached to mental health. We also have a range of resources that can help portray an essential message about your businesses values.
