What We Do
Providing Help After ICU
Psychology
In September 2024 the charity began funding a part time psychologist to work in the local intensive care unit.
Having a psychologist in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) offers numerous benefits to both patients and relatives, given the highly stressful and traumatic nature of intensive care. The psychologist helps by providing coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and emotional support to ICU patients. They evaluate the cognitive state of patients, particularly those who have undergone prolonged sedation or experienced delirium, ensuring early intervention when cognitive issues arise. They help mitigate emotional and psychological aspects of PTSD from ICU, reducing long-term mental health issues.
This service has dramatically improved the lives of patients who have been admitted to the local Intensive Care and it is crucial for their recovery.
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Please contact us if this is a service you think would benefit you or someone you know.
Relatives Advice and Support
Having a relative/loved one in Intensive Care is an extremely stressful experience. Critical illness is a family crisis. Feeling worried and confused can cause family members to stop tending to their own health. The care team may ask the family to make decisions about important, sometimes overwhelming matters. Because of this, 30% of family members may experience their own mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD.
We understand that navigating challenges can be difficult for relatives, and we're here to help. JCCS is dedicated to providing support tailored to your needs. Whether you need guidance on resources or simply someone to talk to, we can point you in the right direction. Together, we can find the best solutions for you and your loved ones.
Education
Critical Care survivors can present in all healthcare settings, at different stages of their critical care recovery. It is therefore extremely important that all health care professionals have some understanding of critical care rehabilitation, the problems that these patients may face and who might need to be involved to support them better.
If you work in healthcare or have an interest in the field, we can offer education on ICU rehabilitation. As a charity we can host workshops, webinars, and training sessions led by Intensive Care professionals which are designed to enhance your knowledge and skills, ensuring you are well-equipped to support patients in their recovery journey.
Please contact us to learn about the latest practices and techniques in ICU rehab, and make a meaningful impact in the lives of those you care for.
Support Groups
Although information about intensive care and the recovery journey is a great help, one of the biggest issues faced in recovery is the sense of isolation from anyone who actually understands what survivors have been through, and this isolation just makes recovery harder. Being able to talk with other people who've had similar experiences can go a long way to help survivors come to terms with their own experiences and, in time, even provide support to others and turn negative healthcare experience into a positive.
At our support groups all ICU survivors are welcome. We invite guest speakers to talk and the opportunity for people to meet others and have time to talk about their own experiences should they wish. We arrange specialist group physiotherapy sessions, mindfulness training and facilitated group psychological support.
