Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

StressPoliceNHSEducationMental health

Frontline workers’ wellbeing should be ‘national priority’

by Ashleigh Webber 2 Feb 2021
by Ashleigh Webber 2 Feb 2021 Shutterstock
Shutterstock

Leading mental health organisations have said the mental and physical health of frontline staff should be a national priority going forward, and have stressed that the efforts many employers have given to supporting wellbeing has not been a ‘universal experience’.

An open letter to people working in health, care and education – signed by 19 mental health organisations including Mind, Samaritans and the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network – commended frontline workers for responding to the pandemic with extraordinary determination, creativity and care, but noted the situation had placed significant pressure on their mental and physical wellbeing.

Mental health

Burnout and exhaustion stalk NHS response to Covid second wave

Four in 10 intensive care staff experiencing PTSD

Together alone: staying well as OH practitioners in challenging times

“We are grateful for your courage, resilience and humanity in the face of ever-changing circumstances and relentlessly difficult choices. We also acknowledge the pressures on your mental and physical wellbeing. Supporting you must be a national priority over the coming months,” the letter said.

“We have been heartened that leaders of organisations have prioritised your wellbeing and mental health, but this has not been a universal experience.”

A King’s College London study recently found that 39.5% of NHS staff in intensive care units reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder following the first wave of Covid-19.

The letter said that although the Covid-19 vaccines provided hope, there would continue to be difficult times ahead.

“This is a heartfelt message of recognition and solidarity with you and your families. It is important to take the wellbeing of keyworkers seriously both now and for a long time to come. We will work tirelessly to ensure your mental health is at the heart of the recovery,” it said.

The letter noted additional support for frontline workers was available through Our Frontline, a bank of resources and a support service provided by Shout 85258 – a free, confidential 24/7 text messaging service.

Ashleigh Webber
Ashleigh Webber

Ashleigh is editor at OHW+ and HR and wellbeing editor at Personnel Today. Ashleigh's areas of interest include employee health and wellbeing, equality and inclusion and skills development. She has hosted many webinars for Personnel Today, on topics including employee retention, financial wellbeing and menopause support. Prior to joining Personnel Today in 2018, she covered the road transport sector for Commercial Motor and Motor Transport magazines, touching on some of the employment and wellbeing issues experienced by those in road haulage.

previous post
IOSH: Don’t ignore work cancer risks during pandemic
next post
Alcohol misuse deaths hit record high

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You may also like

Employers must help employees ‘flourish’ post-pandemic

27 May 2022

Burnout afflicts finance sector despite hybrid working

26 May 2022

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

The seven dimensions of wellness at work (webinar)

13 May 2022

Workers feeing increasingly anxious, burnt out and fearful...

13 May 2022

How employers can support women during the HRT...

13 May 2022

What it really means to be mentally fit

13 May 2022

What is employee wellbeing? Gethin Nadin talks to...

13 May 2022

Brain fog: the menopause symptom impacting women at...

4 May 2022

Employee assistance programmes step up response to Ukraine...

13 Apr 2022

  • The importance of being an ethical leader and how to become one PROMOTED | What is ethical leadership?...Read more
  • RPO Report: 2022, The Year to Outsource PROMOTED | Employers should be overwhelmed with choice...Read more
  • Report: Enabling organisational agility through talent & people success PROMOTED | Work has been challenged...Read more
  • Employee Trends 2022 report PROMOTED | Edenred research on employees analysed the key employees’ trends for 2022...Read more
  • How finance apprenticeships can boost business PROMOTED | As the world’s most forward-thinking professional accountancy body...Read more
  • Paul Devoy: Showing appreciation to the Investors in People community PROMOTED | Ask most people what comes to mind when you mention Investors in People...Read more
  • White paper: How digitalisation can support evolving occupational health PROMOTED | Download this free white paper to discover how digitalisation can help occupational health meet emerging challenges...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Join
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today