Working in OASIS: the view from one of our psychologists

"One of the best things about my job is getting to know people and hearing about them, their lives and experiences. The difficulties and reasons why people come to us is only part of their story and it’s important to remember that there is much more to someone than what we might see at first.

It is great getting to meet people that I wouldn’t normally meet, people from different ages, backgrounds and beliefs, and hearing about things that I know nothing about, like Korean pop music!

Hearing people talk about the things which are distressing to them and the difficult and painful things that have happened in some people’s lives can be emotional. Through all of the distressing stuff, it amazes me how much light can shine through, and the strength and courage that people show is inspiring.

It can be hard when things are not getting better for someone, not just as a professional but as a person sitting with another person. When things do start to change and improve though, it is really wonderful and life-affirming. It is on these days that I think: “this is why I wanted to work in mental health”.

Mental health is a subject which is relevant for all of us, regardless of who we are. Part of our work in OASIS involves meeting with other teams, organisations and the general public to talk to them about what we do and about mental health in general. We want to challenge the stigma that continues to exist, so that people feel able to share their experiences and ask for support when needed

One of the great things about working in oasis is being able to offer support quickly to those who are at risk of developing more serious mental health problems. At a time when there are often long waiting lists for support, this feels like something really special. It is a lovely team, and whilst it is not always perfect, it is a service that I feel very proud of."

  • Ryan's story
  • Mo's story
  • Priya's story
  • Working in OASIS
  • Ryan's story
  • Mo's story
  • Priya's story
  • Working in OASIS