With over half of NHS staff experiencing anxiety and low mood, we examine what the health service can do to improve staff wellbeing
According to NHS Digital, mental ill health accounts for over 20 per cent of sickness absence in the NHS.
Working in the NHS can take its toll on the mental health of many, leading to burnout, anxiety, PTSD and many more issues.
A YouGov survey conducted last year found that over half of the staff surveyed reported experiencing anxiety, while half had struggled with low mood. Exhaustion was reported by 42 per cent while 60 per cent were worried about their colleagues’ mental health.
We take a look at what the NHS is doing so far to ease the mental health crisis in the workforce, as well as what other organisations are doing to build a support network.
The power of music
The Blue Light Symphony Orchestra is the UK’s only orchestra for all Emergency Services personnel and includes people in the Police Force, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Service, the military and other emergency services such as Mountain Rescue, Cave Rescue and the RNLI.
They are a registered charity, and hold all sorts of events across the year to show off the hidden talents of the blue light industry.
Last Christmas season, for example, the orchestra performed in Soho Fire Station with the London Fire Brigade Choir to sing carols and fundraise for both charities.
They held a concert in October in central London, where members came together for a unique performance of some classical favourites, such as Beethoven’s overture ‘Egmont’, a stormy and dramatic rendition of Mozart’s Piano concerto No.20. in D minor and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5.
Surrey Police officer and acting conductor Seb Valentine said: “This unique concert is a celebration of the musical talent that exists within the UK’s emergency services. It is a rare opportunity for these selfless individuals to show their human side and express themselves artistically.”
This orchestra is not the only music-orientated support for NHS workers. You may recognise the Lewisham and Greenwich Trust Choir from their various media appearances.
In 2016, they recorded and released their debut album; ‘Something Inside So Strong’. As well as lending their support to community and NHS events around the country they have also performed at high profile events including Glastonbury Festival, the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, Christmas with the Stars at the Royal Albert Hall, and Stand Up To Cancer with Boy George.
In June last year, they also performed the national anthems at the Major League Baseball series in London.
Wellbeing support hubs
There are staff wellbeing support hubs in place across the NHS, too. Established in October 2020, with funding subsequently extended to March 2023, the hubs were funded on a non-recurrent basis in response to the pressure on the workforce from the pandemic.
Now, they are still providing services for NHS staff to receive mental health support. These hubs across the UK, where staff can seek mental health support through the current staff wellbeing offers, including free access to a range of health and wellbeing apps, or through NHS talking therapies.
They can access help from a GP, as well as a free and confidential Check My Wellbeing self-check tool which can provide further information on the range of support.
For trainee healthcare staff, work can feel especially daunting and stressful.
The Trainee Doctors & Dentist Support Service (TDDSS) is a psychoeducation and support service which aims to offer a range of interventions to support trainees on programmes managed by HEE Local offices in London & the South East.
The service is delivered as part of the PH+ programme of work, hosted by the NHS Practitioner Health Service.
Menopause help for NHS staff
The NHS workforce employs over 1.3 million people, 76.5 per cent of them (over 1 million) women, of which women between the ages of 45 and 54 make up over 19 per cent of the entire NHS workforce.
Supporting women and people going through menopause in the workplace has been an overlooked aspect of mental health support until very recently. The Chartered Institute of Personnel and
Development found that employers lose one in six women from the workforce due to insufficient support.
Menopause and perimenopause (the phase leading up to the menopause) can cause symptoms including anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods.
These changes can impact many people’s work lives, meaning it is even more essential
the NHS provides support for their staff during this time.
NHS Employers said that leaders and managers need to understand menopause and how they can support their staff. They urged NHS Trusts and employers to integrate a variety of strategies to help people going through the menopause in the workplace.
One of these is to recognise the need for support from others going through the same thing, and make space for this in the workplace.
At Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust, for example, they set up a closed Facebook group for staff to join, where colleagues support each other and share their menopausal experiences.
The Trust also implemented menopause network meetings, with guest speakers such as gynaecologists attending to educate and raise awareness, with an inclusive atmosphere welcoming all staff members.
Other ways to help staff going through menopause feel supported include following national menopause guidance, maintaining regular contact to support and connecting during their absence, and offering regular wellbeing conversations to check in.