Willow, who has suffered with Tourettes since they were 17, wanted staff at the Kent-based service to be more educated about the condition to not only reduce any stigma, but to ensure sufferers feel better understood and supported.
After a plea Willow, staff at the 63 bed mental health facility for adults contacted the Learning and Development team to understand if there was anything currently available.
Cygnet Health Care Training Manager Michael Rowland made contact with Tourettes Action who kindly sent across a training link. The training package was reviewed by Willow who said they were really impressed and it matches what they were hoping would be delivered to staff.
The Learning and Development team are now working to get the training rolled out across Cygnet.
Willow was diagnosed with Tourettes Syndrome when they were 17, although they experienced tics for at least six years prior.
They explained: “For as long as I can remember I have felt ashamed and embarrassed by them, like I was an irritating burden.
“That feeling is almost as isolating as the tics are themselves. People tend to assume that because my tics are usually fairly subtle they must not bother me that much, but that is so far from the truth.
“Whilst I am grateful that I’m able to suppress my tics to some extent, this in itself is just as exhausting as the constant noises and movements and can often lead to an “explosion” of tics later on.
“It is so frustrating never truly being able to be quiet or still.”
Tourette’s Syndrome Awareness month runs from 15th May to 15th June each year and is an opportunity to highlight the challenges that those living with TS may experience.
Explaining their motivation for wanting staff to receive more training on the condition, Willow added: “Being in an overstimulating and anxiety inducing environment such as an inpatient ward has an impact on everyone, but for me one of the areas that is influenced is my Tourettes.
“High levels of anxiety worsen my tics and, at times, I have to explain what Tourettes is in order to receive support with it.
“People being more knowledgeable and trained on Tourettes, and tics in general, massively helps reduce the stigma and takes some of the expectation away from those of us with Tourettes to educate people about a painful disability we didn’t choose to have.
“I think this training is very important so that anyone, service user or staff member, with Tourettes who comes here in the future feels understood and supported – by the staff involved in their care or by the colleagues they work with.
“The training being approved made me feel valued and has reassured me that people do want to listen and learn, which I am immensely grateful for.”
Mandy Blanchard, Head of Learning and Development at Cygnet, said “this is a wonderful example of person-centred care and our staff learning from our patients.”