The implementation of a scheme in west Wales helping employees return to their roles at work will boost the area’s productivity, according to one Carmarthenshire mental health practitioner.

Community interest not-for-profit RCS has expanded services to Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion to assist those who are absent from their job, or are at risk of sickness absence.

According to specialist mental health practitioner Sharon Langford from the Meddygfa Tymbl in Upper Tumble and the Brynteg Medical Practice in Ammanford, the programme has arrived at a time of unprecedented demand for GPs.

Sharon said: “We have seen a significant increase in people with work-related stress and mental health challenges due to Covid-19 who would not normally seek help at a GP surgery before.

“I currently see roughly 65 patients a week, and that figure has steeply increased over the course of the pandemic as more workers recognise the need for assistance in times of distress.

“Each lockdown and wave of restrictions has only increased that reliance on the system, so there has rapidly become a need for services which can support us in our roles to assist patients through those challenges.

“It has gotten to the point where we are starting to see impacts on the region’s productivity as absences are piling up for a number of reasons, with mental health being one of the key ones.”

RCS provides its In Work Support programme, which is part-funded by European Social Funding through Welsh Government, to anyone who is absent from work or at risk of becoming absent from work through illness, offering free and rapid assistance and therapy to help them return to employment.

The service is available to employed or self-employed people who live or work in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Those eligible can access a wide range of support tailored to individual needs, including up to six sessions of talking therapies, coaching or physical therapies to help with mental or physical health conditions, as well as specialist support such as help with employment issues, finances, or debt.

For more information on how you can access RCS’ In Work Support service, visit www.rcs-wales.co.uk or call 01745 336442.