Looking for a way out
Counselling helps depressed woman
SHE visited a health centre recently after experiencing pain in her back and shoulder for some time.
While being medically examined by the doctor, she opened up and shared some issues that were affecting her mental health.
The 50-year-old woman, whom we will refer to as client, was referred by the doctor to Empower Pacific for counselling.
Before visiting the doctor, the single mother of two was in a depressive state for the past year.
Her first counselling session took place a few months ago.
Empower Pacific has a longterm partnership with the Ministry of Health & Medical Services, which is partly supported by the ministry and the Fiji Facility Support Program.
Through this partnership, identified patients are referred to the NGO by doctors for counselling support, as in this case.
The partnership looks at a collaborative approach in providing holistic care to people for mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.
Going back to the client’s story, she reached out and was met by Empower Pacific counsellor Rakshika Singh who had three counselling sessions with her.
“The counselling sessions have brought about a lot of changes in my life. I feel empowered and motivated. I have identified coping mechanisms to help me in my daily life,” she said.
“It feels great to know that someone does care and feel for you. My counsellor is a humble listener and I feel relieved because I was heard and understood.
“From my experience, I’ll say that Empower Pacific is the right place to reach out to if anyone is dealing with depression, stress or anything that is bothering you,” said the client.
Ms Singh said the client was in tears when they first met and she gave her time to settle down before starting a conversation with her.
“She was working for 12 years and was laid off during the COVID-19
pandemic. She was in a good state of mind while working, but being laid-off affected her mental health,” she said.
“She was taken back to work as things improved, however, she was given some other duties to do instead of the work she had experience in doing before being laidoff.
“She had asked a manager why this was the case and she stated that she was given a suspension letter by another manager early this year.
“This really upset her. She couldn’t sleep and even stopped socialising or going anywhere.”
Going down memory lane, Ms
Singh said the client got divorced from her husband some years ago and had returned to her parent’s house.
She said the client could not stay at her parents place because of taunting remarks being passed by some family members.
“After being laid-off work, the client and her two sons went to live with her mother who was staying in a HART home then.
“One of her sons had to leave studies and look for a job to support his mother and sibling.
“The client applied for a job at another place and was recruited about two months ago and it was something that made her a bit happy.”
Ms Singh has had three counselling sessions with the client and a few more sessions are scheduled.
“She felt good to know that Empower Pacific provides counselling services to people who are affected mentally.
“She calls me when she feels like talking to someone who will listen and understand her problems. She feels much better now after being counselled.”
Being a counsellor for about the past five years has seen Ms Singh dealing with a lot of people from all walks of life as far as counselling is concerned.
“All cases are different. Even though people are stressed or depressed, the reasons for their state of mind differ in every person,” she said.
“This was a different case too as the client was a divorcee, she was laid-off from work, taken back after some time and then suspended when she raised some concerns.
“She also had issues with her own family members when she went to live with them and her son had to leave further studies to work and support the family when she wasn’t working,” said Ms Singh.
Being an NGO focusing on counselling and providing social work support, Empower Pacific’s counsellors and social workers are always available to assist those in need of such services.
People can call our toll-free counselling helpline - 5626, which is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade, if they need counselling or social work support assistance.
She calls me when she feels like talking to someone who will listen and understand her problems. She feels much better now after being counselled – Rakshika Singh