COVID-19 Bulletin Mental Health Edition: Wednesday 13 January
January 13, 2021
Welcome to a special edition of the COVID-19 bulletin focusing on your mental health.Managing our stress and psychological health at this time is as important as our physical health. Taking care of basic needs and employing helpful coping strategies are top priorities.
The Trust offers a range of support, including helpful advice through the Wellbeing Together newsletter. But it is important that you decide what the right support is for you – remember above all else to EAT, REST and TALK.
Sometimes when we have higher levels of stress we naturally don’t eat as healthily as we perhaps we would normally, but when we are stressed it is more important than ever to provide our bodies with the best nutrients to fuel us through the day. Make time to nourish and re-fuel!
In this issue we highlight some options that are available to you
It’s OK to not be OK.
Thrive by using our mental wellbeing app
All colleagues have exclusive access to the Thrive: Mental Wellbeing app, which is there for the prevention, screening and management of anxiety, depression and stress. The app tackles common stressors such as sleep, bereavements, work issues and more. It also signposts to external support services – with users able to seek immediate help directly from the app.To find out more about how Thrive can help you, and how to access it, click here.
Complete our new Mental Wellbeing Assessments
Completing our simple confidential assessments will help us to help you access tailored support depending on your personal requirements.
The assessments are simple to complete and supported by the wellbeing Hub, who will guide you to access the most appropriate support for you.
Visit Connect to complete your assessments.
Trouble sleeping?
If you’re having sleep problems, there are simple steps you can take to ease those restless nights.
Find out how to get to sleep and how to sleep better at www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/sleep/#what-is
Mental wellbeing while staying at home
If you have to stay at home because of coronavirus , it’s important to take care of your mind as well as your body.
Take a look at these staying at home tips!
Let’s talk
Remember, it’s ok to not be ok, and if you aren’t, we are there is support available to you. Black Country Healthcare NHS Trust have a wide range of mental health clinicians who can help with a variety of things including:
· Emotional wellbeing
· Stress and anxiety
· Coping strategies
· PTSD support
· Talking therapies
· Mental Health First Aid
To book your 121 session contact our occupational health team on 0121 507 3306, or via email
Take advantage of our counselling service
Counselling is a talking therapy that involves a trained therapist listening to you and helping you find ways to deal with emotional issues. Sometimes the term “counselling” is used to refer to talking therapies in general, but counselling is also a type of therapy in its own right.
What can counselling help with?
Counselling can help you cope with issues such as: depression, anxiety, eating disorder, bereavement, a relationship breakdown or work-related stress, low self-esteem, anger and much more.
What to expect from counselling
At your appointment, you’ll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained therapist, who’ll listen and support you without judging or criticising.The therapist can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems.
Contact: 0121 507 3306, or via email swbh.ohreferrals@nhs.net
Note – You can ask to be referred to an external counsellor if you wish.
REACT
Standing for ‘Recognise, Engage, Actively listen, Check risk and Talk’, REACT is a simple way that colleagues can look out for one another at work. Across the organisation over 100 staff members have had approximately four hours of training in how to have a wellbeing conversation with any colleague who wishes to have one.
Although REACT isn’t a form of therapy in itself, many people find a REACT conversation very helpful as it allows them to talk out loud about how their mental wellbeing is affecting their life and form a plan to try and improve things.
Here is a list of REACT practitioners.
Samaritans staff support line
Confidential staff support lines are available, operated by the Samaritans and free to access from 7:00am – 11:00pm, seven days a week.
The general support line is here for when you’ve had a tough day, are feeling worried or overwhelmed, or maybe you have a lot on your mind and need to talk it through. Trained advisers can help with signposting and confidential listening.
General:
0800 06 96 222 (7am-11pm)
Bereavement:
0300 303 4434 (8am-8pm)
Bereavement support line:
There is also a confidential bereavement support line, operated by Hospice UK and free to access from 8:00am – 8:00pm, seven days a week.
Have you visited the Wellbeing Sanctuary yet?
The sanctuary gives colleagues a chance to de-stress and relax in a confidential safe place.
Do you fancy a free:
· Massage
· Chill out downtime over a tea/coffee and a biscuit
· A chat – a listening ear or a chance to talk about anything in confidence
· Meditation
· Mindfulness
· Relaxation hypnotherapy
· Music therapy
The Wellbeing Sanctuary is based at Learning Works on Unett Street, Smethwick, B66 3SY. There is free on site parking.
To book yourself a free session please call 0121 507 5886, or for further details please see the daily sanctuary information sheet.
If you need help please seek it out. Managing your stress and psychological health at this time is just as important as your physical health. Taking care of your basic needs and employing helpful coping strategies are top priorities. Do not suffer in silence.
Find out more on Connect.