Today (1 June) marks one year since the Keeping Well (NWL) staff support service for North West London launched during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We've recorded a special video message below - have a watch!
We were one of the first staff resilience hubs to be set up in England as an immediate response to the pandemic ran in partnership with CNWL and West London.
The Keeping Well Service is here to provide psychological support for staff working in the NHS, social care, ambulance service, volunteers and any other staff providing care to others in the community in the north west London area (this covers Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, K&C and Westminster boroughs.
Dr Chloe Schneider, Clinical Lead says:
"Over the past year we have helped support over 1,000 individuals with their wellbeing. We understand the pandemic has been very challenging espeically for those working in health and social care.
Especially within the last year, which has been so tough for many, you have been working through the pandemic and have been impacted with the world seeing first hand the fundamental role you play."
Dr Natalie Vrahimides, Joint Clinical Lead & Consultant Clinical Psychologist at West London NHS Trust, and Dr Lucy Wilson-Shaw, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at CNWL are excited to be celebrating one year.
"Our teams feel delighted to have been part of setting up and offering the Keeping Well service, we have seen a steady flow of people coming to the service, some staff with new concerns about their wellbeing, others who have old difficulties resurface following the sustained challenges and pressures the health service has faced during the pandemic.
We are proud to be able to offer this support to our colleagues and know that this support not only enriches thier wellbeing but also those they are for in their personal and professional lives. We hope this focus on staff wellbeing continues long after the pandemic comes to an end as the benefits are felt throughout the wider health service."
There are a number of different resources and self-help material available via our resources section on our website and these materials have been accessed by more than 1,000 people in the last month alone.
Dr Ryan Kemp, Director of Therapies at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, said:
"We know that many of our colleagues are experiencing extraordinary levels of stress and trauma. If you need someone to talk to our trained wellbeing professionals are here to help. These evidence-based therapies work and the live chat allows anyone to talk anonymously and confidentially to a trained clinician in real time. We hope that having the opportunity to ask questions in this way will help more people come forward for support."