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Shout provides a free 24/7 text support service for NHS staff who are working on the frontlines right now. Text FRONTLINE to 85258 to talk by text with a trained crisis volunteer.
Toolkit
Our Frontline: support for healthcare workers
Right now, healthcare workers are facing an extremely challenging situation, doing important and difficult work. Taking care of your mental health and managing feelings might be taking a back seat.
Let us help
Our Frontline offers round-the-clock one-to-one support, along with a collection of resources, tips and ideas chosen to support your mental health as you do your work to protect us all and keep the country going. To talk by text, text FRONTLINE to 85258 any time. To talk by phone, call 0300 131 7000 from 7am to 11pm if you’re in England, or call 116 123 any time if you’re elsewhere in the UK.
It’s all in confidence, with trained volunteers.
Below, you’ll find some more details about the help that’s available, and some other things that we think you’ll find useful. When you can, take a moment and have a look through.
We’ll update this page as we learn more about what’s helpful to you over the coming weeks and months, but will keep it small and focused. If you’d like to see more, you can always search our site for everything we’re recommending for frontline healthcare workers.
Resources in this toolkit:
NHS staff in England can call Samaritans' dedicated confidential support line on 0300 131 7000, 7am–11pm every day of the week. NHS staff anywhere else in the UK can call on 116 123 to speak with a trained listening volunteer.
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There are also several wellbeing apps that are currently free for NHS workers. This page explains what they each do and how to access them.
Resources
A field guide to self-care
Your work environment is intense, and perhaps traumatic. Help for Heroes, through their work supporting veterans, are experts in this - and have produced this guide specifically to support you at this time.
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Resources
10 stress busters
This web page from the NHS outlines ten easy ways for you to reduce the amount of stress you experience. It includes tips on remaining positive, connecting with people, and getting active.
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There will be times when the pressures feel overwhelming. This easy one-page PDF gently discusses some of the emotions you may be feeling, reassures you that your responses are normal, and offers advice for coping with this difficult situation.
The fact is, COVID-19 is causing many people to die before their time. Working in this environment, supporting both patients and the bereaved, can take its toll. This guide can help make it a little easier to think, and talk, about.
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How are you feeling today, NHS?
This easy-to-use tool was developed with NHS staff to help you talk openly about emotional health, take stock of how you and your team are doing right now, and see what you can do to have more good days than bad.
Resources
Coronavirus and your wellbeing
It isn't only about work, though - you might have other worries and issues during the pandemic. This short guide explores some of the mental health difficulties you might experience, and some ways to stay well.
Finally, perhaps you're managing others and are thinking about them too. This site from the COVID Trauma Response Working Group is full of resources to help keep teams happy and productive during these challenges.