Government publishes guide to staying mentally well this winter

The disruption of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all of our lives. The government’s ‘Staying mentally well this winter‘ plan sets out the support that will be in place in the immediate term to help mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on people’s mental health and wellbeing this winter.

For some people, the greater flexibility in work schedules, or sense of strong community spirit that has come about as a result of coronavirus has led to positive changes, which have improved wellbeing. However, many others have reported feelings of worry, anxiety, frustration or loneliness.

With the darker months approaching and entering a second lockdown, added strain is likely to be put on people’s resilience, particularly the most vulnerable in our communities and neighbourhoods.

The guidance focusses on:

• Empowering everyone to look after their wellbeing;
• People who might be struggling with their wellbeing this winter;
• Support in communities;
  • Voluntary sector and support;
  • Supporting children;
  • Supporting mental health services;
  • For people experiencing a mental health crisis;
  • Protecting physical health.
• Supporting frontline health and social care workers;
  • Support for social care staff.

Wellbeing and work

There is also a section on wellbeing and work, which signposts the HSE’s ‘Talking Toolkit’, encouraging people to have effective conversations with employees on how to prevent work-related stress, and best practice will be available to employers via the Mental Health at Work website.

It goes on to look at the available support for social care workers, which includes information on ‘Our Frontline’, a collaboration between Samaritans, Shout, Hospice UK and Mind, provides information, emotional support and access to a crisis text service for those working on the frontline, including in social care.

Click here to access the Staying mentally well this winter guide.

Burnout podcast

Heather Beach, Founder of the Healthy Work Company, speaks to Stacy Thomson, Award Winning Mental Health Nurse & Cognitive Behavioural Coach, to discuss burnout, perfectionism and how to deal with burnout as an individual, as management and as an organisation.

Subscribe and tune in the Safety & Health Podcast to discover the latest issues facing the health and safety profession, and stay on-top of the developments affecting your role, from working at height, lone working and common workplace hazards, to safety culture, behaviours, occupational health and mental health and wellbeing.

Join the conversation today!