Maintaining good mental health in exceptional times
Dr Maria Vidal, Clinical Psychologist at Newham Hospital writes about the works she has been doing to support staff wellbeing during the covid-19 pandemic and includes her top 5 tips to looking after your mental health.
It’s been widely discussed recently how looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health; both at work and whilst at home. It’s been an incredibly challenging time for us over the past few months and the increased talk about wellbeing should continue well into the future and beyond.
Since March, the clinical psychologists across Barts Health have been able to take up some new opportunities to work in staff wellbeing across our sites. At Newham we’ve met some amazing people, teams and networks and have been struck by their ‘together-ness’ and pride in working during this difficult time. Peer support has featured strongly, as well as motivation to access reflective groups and teaching to help gather people together to talk about their experiences.
We’ve had important conversations about wellbeing and have been able to talk about the challenge of working (and living) in these exceptional times. We’ve discussed the higher risk to health and greater uncertainty when working and the impact of colleagues who have become ill and those who have sadly passed away. We have pulled together stories of loss, sadness and remembrance, but also sharing important information about what staff have valued about themselves and each other. Common phrases used during this time have been “ it’s ok not to be ok” but also “it’s ok to be ok!”
5 tips for sustaining your wellbeing
Some information shared with teams and staff groups at Newham has included how to sustain wellbeing. We’ve talked about “5 tips to wellbeing” which encompasses the importance of being able to:
- Connect: there is strong evidence that indicates that feeling close to, and valued by, other people is a fundamental human need and one that contributes to functioning well in the world.
- Be active: regular physical activity is associated with lower rates of depression and anxiety across all age groups.
- Take notice: studies have shown that being aware of what is taking place in the present directly enhances your well-being and savouring ‘the moment’ can help to reaffirm your life priorities.
- Learn: continued learning through life enhances self-esteem and encourages social interaction and a more active life.
- Give: participation in social and community life is associated with an increase in wellbeing.
Read more about taking care of yourself at work on the Mind website.
Support line
If you feel like you’d like to talk to someone about how your wellbeing you can ring the Barts Health Psychology Staff Support helpline to speak to a professional.
Give us a call on: 07713 099 178