“I’ve been in a better place mentally for the last two years”

Having served in the RAF as a Safety Equipment Fitter, Shaun Nyhan is no stranger to knowing when something is fit for purpose. And his weekly Telephone Friendship Groups, arranged by the RAF Benevolent Fund, are no exception, having positively impacted his mental wellbeing following a major surgery that left him feeling isolated.

Commending the RAF Benevolent Fund for the improvement that Telephone Friendship Groups have had on his mental health, 65-year-old Shaun said: "For the last two years, I've been in a better place mentally – there's been a significant difference."

Prior to joining the Telephone Friendship Groups, Shaun was battling with poor mental health. After undergoing spinal cord surgery, sleep deprivation and an inability to perform his daily self-care duties, Shaun was stuck on the sofa for most of the day.

Shaun said: "I felt alone after having major spinal surgery. I was unable to leave the house often and needed something to do other than watching the television."

In 2019 Shaun was offered the opportunity to take part in the RAF Benevolent Fund's Telephone Friendship Groups.

To his pleasure, Shaun attends an all-male Telephone Friendship Group with five members, three of whom have remained in the same group as Shaun for the last three years. The familiar voices in Shaun's group create a sense of stability and loyalty that allows Shaun and his peers to support each other through good and bad times, while also reminiscing on their time in the RAF.

Shaun said: "I'm very invested in the wellbeing of my Telephone Friendship Group friends. Supporting one another through difficult times is an important part of our week."

He continued: “I’ve got four friends that I’ve never met, and they are brilliant! I couldn’t be happier.”

With authentic friendships at the heart of Telephone Friendship Groups, calls happen at a set time every week whereby members can recommend their favourite reads, share stories and uplift spirits.

65-year-old Shaun said: “We talk about the best films to watch and which books we are currently reading.”

Then saying: “It’s not unusual for us to go over our allocated talk time by five or so minutes. I don’t know where I’d be without these lads and I’m very grateful to the Fund for making this a possibility.”