Two Black Country NHS Trusts marked World Mental Health Day by urging staff to take five minutes of their day to look after themselves.
Promotional stalls were put up at both Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust inviting staff to join mental health teams for a chat over free cups of tea, sweet treats and snacks.
Jodie Kirby, Lead Nurse for Mental Health at Walsall Healthcare, led a display in the atrium at Walsall Manor Hospital, where the Trust’s charity Well Wishers paid for the refreshments.
She said: “We promoted the idea to staff of taking five minutes for their mental health. We offered them leaflets to help their mental health and that of their patients.”
Staff also engaged colleagues in the ‘We can talk’ project which gives them six hours of mental health training.
“This is a care plan we have developed for the Emergency Department for children in crisis and this information has gone into packs that have gone out to the wards,” added Jodie.
“Staff have been coming up to use asking for help for themselves but also for family members, so we have pointed them in the right direction. Common themes people have been concerned about are the cost of living crisis and benefits.”
Colleagues Lee Evans, Interim Matron for Mental Health and Clinical Nurse Specialist, Orlaith Healy, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Gemma Powell, Quality and Governance Manager for Mental Health, Joanne Anstill, Administration Lead for Mental Health and Noel Chigwedere, Clinical Nurse Specialist, joined Jodie in promoting awareness at the stall.
Goody bags were handed out to every ward and staff were invited to write words or phrases that helped their mental health on cut-out hands on a board on the stand.
Words wrote included rest, sleep, exercise, walking, being in nature, singing, reading, family, garden and faith in God. Badges were also available, in exchange for a donation.
At New Cross Hospital, Joanna joined Emma Sharratt, Mental Health Act Administrator, to run a stall by Gregg’s and chatted to staff and patients, signposting where to access support, as well as sharing a few sweet treats.
Emma said: “We had leaflets on MIND (mental health charity) and the World Mental Health organisation for patients, family members and carers. We had lots of great resources to spread awareness.
“Most people stopped to talk spoke about trying to get a GP appointment and any home treatment support for their mental health.
“Others spoke about some staff leaving the NHS. They weren’t having a happy balance of work and home life, and it was very impacting to their wellbeing.”
Joanna said: “We said a big thank you to staff for all their hard work. ”
Staff on New Cross’s Neonatal Unit marked the day with a display which invited people to take a promotional mug and positive affirmation card as well as reminders to pause, rest and recharge.