28/01/2026
Never give up!
That’s the message behind today’s serious post from Sheila.
And it comes with a trigger warning as it references suicidal ideation.
We all know that the NHS is an overstretched service, but Sheila wanted to share a positive encounter she had recently.
Confidentiality is, of course, paramount when counselling private clients, but Sheila also has a duty of care if a person is not safe to alert other agencies to help protect them.
And that’s exactly what she had to do recently, when a client was at serious risk of harm and, in collaboration with them, spoke to their GP surgery, and was met with a positive response.
Sheila said: “I know other people have different experiences with the NHS, but I think it’s important we have positive stories as well. In my recent experience, the client’s GP practice wanted to work collaboratively to do all they could to protect the individual’s safety, so it was a very positive experience.
“Most of the time, people are trying to do their best, especially at a moment when I know that there’s a high demand for their services.
“There needs to be a collaboration of everyone working together, including counsellors, supervisors, GPs, and other agencies, when someone is at real risk of harm and can’t keep themselves safe. We all have a duty of care to make them our priority.”
If you are feeling suicidal, there is help out there, including your GP surgery and counsellors you can talk to.
Sheila also has many free mental health resources on her YouTube Channel, including a discussion with a Samaritan, so you know what to expect before you call, and the Samaritans can also be contacted on 116 123.
***de
