Mental health and wellbeing support

What we offer?

If you self-refer to us, you will usually be offered a confidential telephone appointment with one of our counsellors to discuss what we offer, and if such a service will meet your current needs.

This service is different from the support you might be offered in the community (for example by your GP or your local Talking Therapies service).

We offer short term, time-limited support, and our main specialism is in issues related to work and workplace wellbeing.

If your difficulty is more long-standing, or requires a specialist service (e.g. domestic violence, bereavement, psychiatry), we might suggest that you contact them in the first instance. This is to make sure that your needs are fully met. We are always happy to discuss this with you, if you are unsure.

Newcastle OHS counselling is not an urgent care service and there will usually be a wait for appointments.

If you have urgent concerns, you should contact:

Your GP

NHS 111 (press option 2)
Emergency services
or attend your local emergency department (depending on the urgency).

If you have access to your local crisis team, you may also contact them.

How can I be referred into the service?

Self-referral

Staff can self-refer into Newcastle Occupational Health Service by completing an online self-referral.

You can make a referral into the service by selecting counselling self-referral.

This service is confidential, and your manager will not be informed if you choose to access support.

Your referral will be triaged by the clinical team and the most suitable appointment offered. You may be sent some information by email with links to support areas.

We do not share any information with your manager or HR, and our documentation is separate from your other records.

The only exception to this would be if we were very worried about your safety, or someone else’s safety. In that case, we might share some of your information with other agencies who might help to keep people safe. We would always try to speak to you about it first.

Further information and support in completing an online self-referral

Management referrals

If a manager has any concerns about the effects of:

Work on an employee’s health
An employee’s health on their ability to work

They should consider completing a management referral. OHS offers advice to managers and can assist employees with their health problems.

If you are referred by your manager as part of a management referral, we will discuss with you any queries raised by your manager about how to support you in your work or back to work.

Your manager should have your consent to do this. We will agree the contents of a report to share with your manager which gives them an overview of any support that we would suggest.

This report will not include confidential information that you do not want to share. You always have the option to approve this report before your manager receives it.

Further information and support in completing an online management

You can also see our information statement to find out more about how we use and store your personal information.

Our team

Counselling

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) states counselling ‘provides a safe and confidential space for you to talk to a trained professional about your issues and concerns’.

Your therapist will help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can develop a better understanding of yourself and of others. Your counsellor will help you find your own solutions – whether that’s making effective changes in your life or finding ways of coping with your problems.’

Counsellors are impartial, but they are understanding and will listen to you without judgment. During counselling, you may be offered information, but counsellors will not tell you what you should think or do.

Local services outside of occupational health

We may signpost you to other local services if we think that they can meet your needs more effectively.

Most of these accept self-referrals, but if you need help finding your local service or need to access a more specialist service, you should speak with your GP in the first instance.