The pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected every one of us, both at home and at work. It’s normal to feel anxious, sad, or overwhelmed in response to such stressful circumstances, but these feelings can be difficult to manage sometimes.
There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent things from getting worse. There might be specialist support that can help with certain reactions to these pressures too.
But it can be hard to navigate all the different offers of help that are out there. That’s where the Staff Wellbeing Hub comes in.
The Staff Wellbeing Hub has been set up by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System. It is supporting our region’s health and care staff to access what they need to stay mentally well throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Hub offers:
- A helpline providing a listening ear as well as information, advice, and guidance, to help you find the support you need. It can also arrange call-backs from experienced NHS psychological therapists if you need to talk to someone about what you are going through.
- A range of support offers, including coaching for managers to help you look after your team, group support such as Balint Groups for clinicians and teams, and other ways to regulate the stress in your body or mind.
- An online Wellbeing Diary, to help you track your mood and understand what helps you stay well.
- A wellbeing toolkit, with short and practical self-help exercises.
- Free webinars to help staff understand and adapt to what we are going through.
You can call the Hub’s confidential helpline on 0191 223 2030 to get support.
The helpline is available seven days a week, including Bank Holidays, from 7am-9pm.
Therapists are available between 12-6pm Monday to Friday; if you call outside these hours and need to speak to a therapist, helpline staff will arrange for a therapist to call you back at the soonest suitable time.
The Hub isn’t replacing other services. Instead, the Hub brings together the many pieces of exemplary work organisations across our region are already doing to help staff stay well.
To find out more, visit the Staff Wellbeing Hub webpages.
If you have any queries, please email [email protected].