I work in the manufacturing sector as a product designer. After 23 years in employment, I unexpectedly experienced physical and mental burn out and a complete emotional breakdown.

I am a father of three with a very busy home and work life, I did not have time to be ill…

My employer introduced me to services of Workable NI support in late 2023.

Early in 2024 I met Dorothy Greenaway and started on the programme.

I was in an almost constant state of agitation that generated ruminating thoughts that fuelled anxiety and caused chronic stress and upper body pain.

I had already started on a journey with by GP but given my condition, the difficulties getting through to the surgery never mind achieving an appointment added to my stress and anxiety.

I attended sessions with Dorothy every three weeks and I found that having a non-judging, independent, very caring, and patient person to talk to was a lifeline for me at my time of crisis.

Workable signposted me to a counsellor providing cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and to a Condition Management Programme (CMP). Both processes helped me come to terms with my health challenges and helped me develop coping strategies.

I continued to attend sessions with Dorothy throughout 2024, 2025 and now into 2026. Having the routine gave me something to focus on, work towards, and someone to report my progress too.

Fundamentally I had worked myself into the ground and I had lost sight of what an acceptable level of output might be. Working with Dorothy helped me to understand that I need to go easy on myself and that I needed to be patient as my recovery was going to be nonlinear, some days good and other days not so good.

I have established a better work-life balance and have gradually accepted that I am middle aged and not in my twenties anymore.

As a direct result of being on the Workable NI programme I am now in a much better place and my life has largely returned to normal. I am very thankful for this.

I would recommend Workable NI to anyone that needs it. It has been transformational for me, I feel much better and I am now more equipped with the tools to cope going forward.

Thank you Dorothy and Workable NI.

I have used the above service on a number of occasions and they have provided me with much needed and valuable support without which I would not have been able to rebuild my confidence and mental health to remain in my current place of work.

I cannot thank you enough for all the support given.

NICS Administrative Assistant

I never knew SES existed until I started having issues with my place of work which had a massive impact on my Mental health and general health. SES has helped me get through a very difficult time in my place of work. Speaking to SES has helped me find ways to deal with difficult situations that I couldn’t “see past” or deal with previously. They were able to speak on my behalf to managers and help me focus on ways of getting through each shift at work.

My name is Niall from Ballymena. Before I joined the workable program my Mum and Dad found it hard to get me job I was able to do. Sometimes I got very stressed worrying about filling out the job forms with Mum and Dad.

I signed onto Workable NI and the Employment Support Workers I have had have helped me. They chat to me make sure they understand my disabilities. When I am worried or feel stressed or have problems, they support me.

My support worker is amazing; with her support she helps me to enjoy life and worry less.  Without Workable NI I would not be in a job. I feel so lucky have this programme. The support worker helps my Mum and Dad as well when I am in bad form, she supports me, so I feel better at home.  She is a star. Thank you to all support workers in the Workable NI programme for your kindness and help which means lot to me.
❤️

Daniel works as a graduate engineer in IT department. 24 months ago, Daniel fell ill and spent a year in hospital recovering from a mental illness.

Daniel was referred to Workable NI through his Community Psychiatric Team to support in his return to work.

When Daniel rejoined the workplace, his confidence was understandably low. Despite his strong technical knowledge, he doubted his ability and felt self-conscious, particularly due to involuntary movements caused by his condition and medication.

Working closely with Jenny his Workable ESO, a series of tailored adjustments were introduced. Initially, this included the option to attend work meetings remotely rather than face-to-face, helping Daniel ease back into the workplace without added pressure.

Regular monthly meetings with his ESO provided a consistent space to reflect, set goals, and address challenges. These sessions became a cornerstone of Daniel’s progress, offering both practical strategies and emotional reassurance.

Flexibility from his manager also helped address the side effects of Daniel’s medication, including drowsiness, allowing him to work at times that best suited his energy levels.

12 months later Daniel gradually transitioned back to face-to-face work meetings, becoming less self-conscious over time. Outside of work, he started reconnecting socially, taking part in activities such as swimming and badminton—important indicators of his overall recovery.

Throughout, Jenny encouraged a measured approach, helping Daniel resist the urge to rush his progress and instead focus on sustainable, long-term success.

Daniel said:

“Without the support of my ESO Jenny, I don’t think I would have managed the transition back to work. Having someone who understood both my health and my job made all the difference. It helped me rebuild my confidence at a pace that felt right.”

His manager said:

“Workable NI has been invaluable. The guidance from Jenny gave us the confidence to support Daniel in the right way. It’s been a positive experience for both Daniel and the team, and we’ve been able to retain a highly skilled employee.”

I would like to give a huge thank you to Workable.

Just over a year ago, I approached Dorothy Greenaway, Workable ESO, as mentally and physically I was in an awful dark place.

I was just out of hospital as a result of a total breakdown, following a breakup from a long-term relationship.

I knew I needed help and I am so glad I met Dorothy.

Through Workable, I received counselling that I much needed and that was a great first step.

They also arranged sessions with the Condition Management Programme, which was the best thing I have done.  It gave me tools that I still use on a daily basis.

They really helped me get back on track with work, family relations and day to day coping, but most importantly saved my life.

So, thank you Workable and Dorothy.

Robert

When I found the Workable N.I. Programme and Dorothy, I found that it helped to
build my self-confidence in myself and gave me the strength to carry on, when I was
in a very low place in my life.
Workable N.I. (Dorothy) provided a place where I could talk to someone without
judgement being made, except to help me address all things with a positive outlook.
Workable N.I. was also a place that, if I had any issues concerning work, I had
someone to talk to every three weeks, which worked perfectly for me.
I cannot thank Workable and Dorothy enough for all the help she gave me and I
would personally recommend the service to anyone.

Hi, my name is Oonagh and I work as a medical secretary.
I have always struggled with my mental health having been diagnosed with depression and anxiety.
When I first started in this post, I struggled to fit in and found social interactions awkward – either
oversharing or completely misreading the situation. I have always found social interactions
uncomfortable and found I would often leave work wound tighter than a spring. My weekends
would be filled with anxiety about the week past and further anxiety about the week ahead.
This lead to tensions with my colleagues and managers and ultimately a lot of sickness related to
stress. I was referred to Workable N.I. by my manager after several periods of sickness and
communication struggles with my manager.
I was not familiar with Workable N.I. at all and really was not sure exactly what this referral would
achieve but I went into it with an open mind and a desperate need for help.
Around this time, I received an official diagnosis of Autism, which was both a relief and a struggle
knowing that there was a valid reason for why I was not able to cope. At my diagnosis, I was told I
would go through a rollercoaster of emotion from grief, acceptance, anger and frustration. This was
so true.
When I first met my caseworker, it was nice to have someone neutral to understand what difficulties
I was facing. Someone to collect the facts I was trying to present to my manager without the
dysregulated emotions.
My entire work environment had become very hostile, my colleagues had no understanding of my
behaviour or diagnosis and I was struggling to communicate with them whilst regulating my
emotions and distress. I felt I was becoming isolated and picked on by my colleagues.
My caseworker Robert was able to communicate with my managers my needs and help them
understand the affect the stress and my frustration was having on me and the effect this was having
on my colleagues. Through Workable N.I. I was able to access therapies, ASD Coaching and ASD
awareness training for my colleagues.
This really helped me not only cope with my current situation but also address long buried traumas
that I had been avoiding processing.
After moving from a large open plan office with 11 secretaries into a small side office on my own I
feel so much more relaxed at work. I am able to focus on what I am doing and learn a new computer
system that has been rolled out to all the NHS Trusts in Northern Ireland. I had not realised myself
the impact the larger office had been having on me until moving into a quieter space.
I now have a healthy work life balance and no longer go home feeling sick with anxiety and stress.
My sickness record has vastly improved and generally my interactions with my colleagues and
management are easier and the hostility is no longer so palpable.
I know Robert is just a phone call away if I need to get a different perspective on something that I
have not understood.
Without Workable N.I. I would not have recognised the full extent of the issues I had and would not
have been able to articulate them to my managers.
I would highly recommend anyone in a similar situation as myself to contact Workable N.I. and
strongly believe that without the support from Workable N.I. I would have either completely burnt
myself out or left a job that I very much love.
I am now able to come into work without anxiety, I can communicate with my colleagues but do not
feel I have to join in with awkward social interactions and most importantly, I go home and am able
to leave work at work

I found the program very useful and supportive. Having someone to discuss problems with
and voice concerns provided a great framework to navigate the issues. Feeling heard was a
vital part of this. I felt that I was not alone, and it helped me to develop strategies to deal with
any issues. It also helped me recognise signs that I was struggling and how to get additional
help. I would definitely recommend the program to anyone struggling to deal with issues that
impact their work capabilities.
Customer Support Administrator

I was referred to the Workable programme from the Condition Management Programme to help with my return to work with Long Covid.

I found the Workable Programme a great help and very supportive throughout my time on it.

I had a difficult start to my return to work with a lack of understanding of my condition in the workplace and difficulty having work related adjustments that Occupational Health had recommended to be implemented on returning to my job after a long-term sick absence.

Without the invaluable support and guidance from my Employment Support Officer, I would not have been able to remain working during this very difficult time. My Employment Support Officer went above and beyond to help and support me through this very stressful time.

I highly recommend the Workable Programme and feel that what they provide and do helped me to remain working. I now have the adjustments that I needed put in place and I can enjoy working and being a productive employee once again.