National Mental Wellbeing Support Line

A National Mental Wellbeing support line is available for everyone working in health and social care services. It is a compassionate listening service which you can access whenever you need it – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 0800 111 4191. A 24/7 text alternative to the above helpline operated by Shout – NHS staff can simply text FRONTLINE to 85258.

Andy’s Man Club

Andy’s Man Club – a men’s suicide prevention charity, offering free-to-attend peer-to-peer support groups across the United Kingdom and online. They want to end the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and help men through the power of conversation. #ITSOKAYTOTALK

Coaching

Staff in all areas within NHS Forth Valley can access coaching. We have accredited coaches who can provide a confidential safe space and an opportunity where you have time to think and reflect on your thoughts and feelings. Coaching can support you with your health and wellbeing to increase resourcefulness and resilience in times of stress. Coaching can be face-to-face or remotely by phone, or video conference. If you are interested in having a coach, please email margaret.kerr4@nhs.scot or phone 0785 444 7015.

Coaching for Wellbeing (Know You More) – a free, digital coaching service for all health and social care staff. Coaching is a safe, confidential, enabling and developmental relationship which is tailored to your specific needs, style and context.

Counselling and Psychological Therapies Self-referral

Staff can self-refer to Occupational Health for counselling and psychological therapies by completing a form on the eOPAS section of the Staff Intranet, calling Occupational Health on 01324 566663, or visiting the Occupational Health Department on the second floor of Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

LGBT Mental Health Support in Scotland

LGBT Health and Wellbeing works to improve the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland.

They provide support services, social events and develop resources so LGBT people can address the health issues that impact their lives and connect with their local communities.

Lifelines Scotland

Lifelines Scotland – Lifelines Scotland have developed a Staying Well Road Trip for emergency responders, but we think it might be helpful to all those providing care to others. The Road Trip is designed to get you thinking about things that might help protect your mental wellbeing, as well as some of the challenges which might negatively affect it.

You’ll learn about resilience building, identify factors within your role which might protect you against stressful or traumatic experiences, identify challenges within your role which might worsen stressful experiences, and be supported to recognise the signs that you’re not ok. You can take this virtual Road Trip around Scotland at your own pace, and retake it as often as you need.

Mental Health & Wellbeing Platform

The Mental Health & Wellbeing Platform has been developed in partnership with the Employment and Mental Health Working Group, which brings together the experience and expertise of cross-sectoral representatives from employer organisations, Trade Unions, mental health organisations and public sector partners.

Mental Health Workforce Service

All regulated NHS and care staff working as part of the Scottish workforce can access to a new specialist service offering confidential mental health assessment and treatment. The Workforce Specialist Service is delivered by experts with experience in treating a range of issues such as stress, anxiety, depression or addiction, with a focus on the impact this may have on a person’s work.

You can find out more and how to access the service here or you can email prac.health@nhs.net or call 0300 0303 300 (Monday – Friday 8am-8pm, Sat 8-2pm).

Psychological First Aid

Psychological First Aid via telephone can be accessed directly by phoning the National Wellbeing Helpline for Staff 0800 111 4191. Staff can have 3 sessions by phone for support and then referred on locally if they need more.

You can also access Psychological First Aid within NHS Forth Valley via referral from your GP.

Ripples of Grief

Ripples of Grief – A short film which explores ways in which healthcare professionals can support people who are bereaved as well as look after their own wellbeing.  It is structured around 10 tips / key points and features perspectives from three current / previous members of the NHS Education of Scotland Board Bereavement Strategic Lead & Coordinator Network

Silvercloud

Silvercloud (National Wellbeing Hub) – Silvercloud is an online cognitive behavioural therapy programme providing you with the tools to manage a number of common issues. Courses cover topics including Resilience, Sleep, Alcohol, Anxiety, Depression, Money Worries, and Stress. Each course is self-directed, completed at your own pace, and contains a mix of educational information, interactive tools, videos, and reflective exercises.

Spiritual Care Support

Spiritual Care and Support – The Spiritual Care Service provides a safe and confidential space for staff to talk about what’s going on for them at moment – either by phone or face-to-face in the spiritual care centre at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.

To access support, please phone the spiritual care office on 01324 566071 during office hours or email fv.spiritualcare@nhs.scot.

Understanding Anxiety

Understanding Anxiety and Panic Attacks (Mind) – Self-help guide for panic attacks.

Workforce Specialist Service

The Workforce Specialist Service (WSS) is a free and confidential multidisciplinary mental health service with expertise in confidentially treating regulated health and social services professionals. The providers specialise in caring for regulated professionals as patients, and as such are experts at the interface between regulation, employment and mental illness and addiction. To find out more, there is a short video here.

ACT Companion

ACT Companion: The Happiness Trap App – Based on ACT principles; be present, open up and do what matters.

Better Health NHS

Better Health (NHS) – When we are faced with stress it can be difficult to concentrate, focus our attention and make decisions. Ways of coping that have worked in the past for us, may not work currently or we may be limited in being able to carry them out. Some days will be better than others. It’s useful to have a range of coping strategies. The NHS website offers a short quiz to work out what type of strategy may be useful and gives alternative suggestions and tips to try.

Breathing Exercises for Stress

Breathing exercises for stress (NHS) – Learning how to breathe as a way of calming our bodies can make a big difference.

Clear Your Head Scotland

Clear Your Head Scotland – A range of tips and ideas to help you keep a clear head during these uncertain times.

Daylight

Daylight – A smartphone-based app that provides help to people experiencing symptoms of worry and anxiety, using evidence-based cognitive behavioural techniques, voice, and animation. You will need to download the app ‘Daylight – Worry Less’ onto your phone and it is free for everyone in Scotland.

Free Mindfulness

Free Mindfulness – Worrying thoughts typically focus on imagined negative and catastrophic outcomes in the future. Mindfulness is a very effective way to bring our attention back to what we are experiencing in the current moment.

Headspace

Headspace is a mindfulness app and website. It is now offering NHS staff free access until the end of 2020. All you will need is your NHS email address to register and log on.

Living With Worry & Anxiety

Living with worry and anxiety amidst global uncertainty – Finding ways to manage your worrying thoughts can be really helpful – this guide uses a cognitive behavioural approach (CBT). It contains information on managing worries, finding a life balance in the current climate of uncertainty and an activity menu for ways to stay occupied. These might also be helpful for friends and family at home.

Psychological First Aid

Psychological First Aid – the principles of this are applicable to all health and social care staff looking after the public and colleagues, whatever their role. Psychological First Aid is known to improve the longer-term psychosocial outcomes and effective recovery for people in times of crisis, such as this ongoing pandemic. Psychological First Aid involves offering humane, supportive and practical help, as well as paying attention to the factors that seem to be most helpful to people’s long-term recovery.

Sleepio

Sleepio – A clinically-evidenced sleep improvement programme that is fully automated and highly personalised, using cognitive behavioural techniques to help improve poor sleep. You can access Sleepio via your laptop or desktop computer and it is free for everyone in Scotland.

Step on Stress

Step on Stress – Step on Stress is a 3-week, pre-recorded stress management course aimed at those with mild to moderate stress. It is available via live-stream over Teams with a moderated question and answer function and has also recently returned to community settings. Each session covers a different topic and lasts just over one hour.