NHS staff are under immense scrutiny and stress every day in their line of work, particularly given the strain that hospitals and the NHS are dealing with at the moment. This has a lot of negative knock-on effects on the overall wellbeing and mental health of NHS staff.
Although the situation is far from ideal, there are internal changes that NHS staff can make that can improve their working life and mental wellbeing in the process.
Talk about mental health at work
It can be a difficult subject to broach, but clearing the air around negative mental health in the workplace is a fantastic way to address the problems associated with it. It is often the case that if someone in the workplace is struggling with things like anxiety and depression, they won’t be alone.
Discuss the aspects of mental health with management to encourage their support with NHS staff. This can be as simple as highlighting the warning signs of mental health issues or setting up a workshop that can help individuals dealing with mental health problems.
Encourage healthy habits in the workplace
Many NHS staff members are worked off their feet during a shift, which can leave little breathing room for wellbeing. It’s important to encourage positive, healthy practices wherever possible to break up the day and discourage negative thinking.
Activities such as light exercise, healthy snacks and mindfulness are all great practices that you can implement in your daily working life to improve your wellbeing.
Encourage staff to find appropriate help
Taking time off work to visit the dentist for a toothache is a common occurrence, but when it comes to mental health needs, people are much less likely to seek help. Encouraging staff to find the right help when they are dealing with mental health concerns should be a top priority.
One of the best ways to encourage positive mental wellbeing is to enjoy your free time. Take a look at our NHS vouchers for Virgin Experiences to save money and improve your wellbeing by enjoying a fantastic day out.
