Case study - Mental health support for Susan

Mental health support

Susan is a 34-year-old married woman with two children, aged 6 and 12 years old. She worked and studied in IT in Tehran, Iran and has a major in English interpretation. The family lived in a nice apartment, where they lived close to her mother and father-in-law who were able to provide childcare while she worked. Her husband is a lawyer.

Her husband converted to Christianity some months ago and began attending church services in private homes. Whilst they were taking their annual holiday in the north of the country, Susan’s husband’s participation in these church services was discovered and her neighbour contacted her telling her the security services had raided their home and were going to arrest her husband on their return.

They had to flee immediately and were not able to return home. Susan was unable to say goodbye to her parents or her siblings, and unable to pack any personal belongings or documentation.

In the space of a week, she went from being a relatively independent professional working woman, to being housed in a single hotel room with two children, with no job and no prospects. Her mental health has begun to suffer significantly, and she is suffering with depression and anxiety. She has very recently lost her grandmother and it has been a great strain for her not being able to return for the funeral.

Susan has been seen and registered with a GP, has started medication and has been referred to the support service Let’s Talk. The GP practice has given her information regarding library opening times and courses, so she has access to the internet and to study if she wants to. She has been introduced to her local church, which has supported both her and her family. The two children have been given bikes and information about local parks and green spaces in which they can play.

Although her life has been altered out of all recognition, almost overnight, and she still struggles with the dramatic change in her lifestyle, she is optimistic and reassured by the warm welcome and acceptance she has experienced since arriving in Gloucestershire.