“I love the feeling I get when I know I’ve helped someone” – a Think Ahead participant describes a typical week in the life of a mental health social worker

Sonya Chee, a participant in the second year of the Think Ahead programme, has been included in a promotional feature in the Metro newspaper, describing her typical working week.

Sonya is a qualified social worker and is based in an Early Intervention in Psychosis team in East London NHS Foundation Trust. In the feature, she talks about how she supported three people who she worked with in one week.

One of those people was Rachel, a woman who first experienced an episode of psychosis after a traumatic incident in her life. Over several months, Sonya provided a range of therapeutic support, practical help and advocacy – including helping Rachel return to work.

Download the PDF to read the full promotional feature in the Metro.

Reflecting on some of the people she has worked with, Sonya says, “I’m often the first person a service user and their family will turn to and that’s what I enjoy about mental health social work. It is so practical and holistic and we support people in all areas of their lives.”

“I love the work I do, and the feeling I get when I know I’ve helped someone to recover.”