Useful resources to aid frontline volunteers and staff speaking with those who are struggling with their mental health.
Many of our members are now receiving calls from people struggling with their mental health. In some cases, these calls are from calls from people who are considering taking their own lives.
Samaritans
The Samaritans website provides a host of support tools:
- SHUSH listening tips: these feature on the above page and are a breakdown of tips to becoming a better listener
- Tips for helping someone open up: this came from the Brew Monday campaign and is around spotting signs, starting conversations and follow up
- Having a difficult conversation: this is about starting, having and follow-up for starting a conversation with someone you’re worried about
- What to do if someone you know is suicidal: this is more action-focused
- Looking after your personal wellbeing: a tool to introduce wellbeing in the workplace to individual employees.
Best Practice Hub GMHSC
The wellbeing of volunteers and staff who are making or receiving calls is really important. The Best Practice Hub on the GMHSC website has links to Every Mind Matters and Live Life to the Full resources.
Suicide – Let’s Talk
You can also encourage your ‘call takers’ to complete the free 20-minute online suicide prevention training on Shining a Light on Suicide.
Mental Health at Work
Mental Health at work has created a specialist service for frontline workers.
Our Frontline offers round-the-clock one-to-one support, by call or text, from trained volunteers, plus resources, tips and ideas to look after your mental health.
Visit the website here.
Connect 5 E-training
Connect5 is a mental health promotion training programme designed to increase the confidence and core skills of front line staff so that they can be more effective in having conversations about mental health and wellbeing, help people to manage mental health problems and increase their resilience and mental wellbeing through positive changes.
Find out more.
NHS Mental Health Hotline
The NHS has launched mental health hotline for staff and volunteers tackling COVID-19. The phone line will be open between 7am and 11pm every day, while the text service will be 24/7.
- 0300 131 7000
- Text FRONTLINE to 85258
- Visit people.nhs.uk
Time to Change
Time to Change has lots of resources available on including recent stories relating to COVID19 and mental wellbeing. Organisations can make a pledge to support the emotional wellbeing of their own staff here as well.
Shout text service
Shout is a text service for any social care staff who might need someone to talk to. Simply text #FRONTLINE to 85258. More information on the service here.
CMRP mindfulness
The Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (CMRP) has produced some Workplace Mindfulness Audio Tracks and lots of other guided meditations.
NAVCA
NAVCA have produced some advice on how to spot if your team members are suffering from vicarious trauma and how you can reduce the risk of this happening.
Visit their website here.
Supporting the Bereaved Training
Thanks to Southampton Voluntary Services for creating and sharing a virtual training session on how to support people who have been bereaved.
The 45 minute session can be accessed on their website here.
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