Supporting the Whole Family in Times of Need: The EFP in Action

When Brent’s son was facing mental health challenges due to bullying at school and changes within the family home, he knew he had to take action to support his family by reaching out to the Electrical Industries Charity.

Despite doing well academically, his son was finding the transition into secondary school difficult, particularly when it came to navigating new social circumstances. He had been experiencing persistent bullying, including hurtful comments linked to how others perceived his identity, personality, and social presentation. The bullying appeared to focus partly on his perceived sexuality and social presentation, with peers using labels such as “sassy” or “gay”. This had started to affect his confidence, school attendance and emotional wellbeing.

Brent noticed his son was becoming more withdrawn, reluctant to attend school, and often came home upset. He was also finding it difficult to talk openly about how he was feeling.

There were also wider family pressures at play, including parental separation, which appeared to be adding to his son’s emotional distress. The family had already accessed some school-based support, but felt he needed specialist therapeutic support outside of school.

Brent and his son were quickly assigned to a Case Manager who spoke with the family to better understand the situation and its wider context. Their Case Manager explored what support was already in place through school, whether any referrals had been considered, and whether the family needed help sourcing a suitable therapist.

The family had concerns that waiting times would be too long for other services, especially considering the amount of distress their son was experiencing. The family felt the situation needed a more immediate response, as his wellbeing, confidence, and school attendance were already being affected.

The Charity’s support helped bridge that gap by sourcing appropriate therapeutic support more quickly, allowing Brent’s son to access counselling at a point when the family felt they could not afford to wait.

The family’s Case Manager matched them with a local therapist with experience supporting young people affected by bullying, anxiety, social difficulties and emotional distress. Once the family felt comfortable with the therapist, the Charity set up a series of in-person counselling sessions.

Brent’s son engaged well with the therapist, and the family reported that he felt comfortable with the support. The therapist also confirmed that the sessions were having a positive impact. Based on this, the Charity approved an extension of support up to 10 sessions to allow continuity of care.

While Brent’s son was being treated, the family also raised concerns about his younger sibling, who had started to show behavioural changes and emotional distress. The sibling had also expressed an interest in speaking to someone. The family’s Case Manager explored this carefully, with consideration given to consent, boundaries and confidentiality.

The Electrical Industries Charity was able to offer support to both children, showing the importance of taking a whole-family approach rather than simply responding to the initial request.

This case demonstrates how the Electrical Industries Charity can step in when a family is feeling overwhelmed, help them access appropriate mental health support, and provide practical assistance at a difficult time.

The support received helped reduce pressure on the parents, gave both children access to a safe therapeutic space, and ensured the family did not have to manage the situation alone.