Evidence suggests that those in caring roles often wait until they are very unwell before reaching out for support (NHS England People Plan).
Staff must be encouraged to get the support that they need, as soon as it is needed. And leaders, teams and employers need to keep offering people support to stay well at work, and keep offering it consistently, across teams, organisations and sectors.
The Keeping Well service are also available for consultation to support teams, contact us to find out more.
Launched in response to COVID-19, Keeping Well (NWL) is a staff mental health and wellbeing service that provides proactive outreach and rapid access to assessment and local evidence-based mental health services and support where needed.
The service provides confidential and free of charge support to: all NHS staff, volunteers, those providing care to others in the community (including residential homes) and the London Ambulance service.
Staff can self-refer or refer a colleague (with their consent).
The staff mental health and wellbeing hubs have been set up to provide health and social care colleagues rapid access to assessment and local evidence-based mental health services and support where needed. The hub offer is confidential and free of charge for all health and social care staff.
It is open to all health and social care staff, from all services and settings regardless of whether you are dealing directly with COVID-19 patients or not.
Click here for all staff mental health and wellbeing hubs across London and the UK.
Many NHS Trusts, health and social care organsiations have different support options for their staff.
This can include Occupational Health, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) and in house counselling provision for their staff. Learn about staff support available to you and your colleagues by your job role or workplace.
Whether you are an employee or manager, you might find yourself recovering from Covid-19 or supporting someone who is.
On this page, you will find guidance and support information for employees and managers on how to manage getting back to work after Covid-19 infection and Long Covid.
- The Samaritans call 116 123 – a confidential phone line for all NHS workers and volunteers has been launched and is free to access from 7am – 11pm, seven days a week. Alternatively, staff can text SHOUT to 85258 for support 24/7 via text.
- Stay Alive App – Suicide prevention resource for the UK, which provides useful information and tools to help people stay safe in crisis. The app also links people directly to local and national crisis resources. Find out more here.
- Local NHS urgent mental health helpline – These lines provide 24-hour advice and support. This website can be used for staff to find their nearest urgent mental health helpline.
- NHS 111/GP – Staff should be reminded that they can also call 111 or book an urgent appointment with their GP when seeking mental health support.