Due to the nature of working in health and social care, many staff are working in highly pressured and potentially stressful environments. Within these environments, it may be easier to put other people's wellbeing before our own, such as our patients' or colleagues'. As we work in a caring profession, looking after other people comes naturally to us. However, taking time for your own wellbeing is essential when working in these roles.
This could look like anything from taking a 5-minute coffee break in the middle of a busy day, to speaking with a mental health professional about any potential concerns. Either way, deciding to take time for yourself is key to maintaining your health and wellbeing at work.
This section highlights practical support and links to external resources that you can use to ensure you are prioritising your wellbeing. The resources linked below may be helpful to understand why we experience certain thoughts, feelings and emotions relating to our work, and how we can avoid potentially negative consequences.
1 in 4 people will suffer with a common mental health problem at some point in their lives.
But how helpful is this statistic? It suggests that there are two distinct groups- people who do not have mental health problems who are presumably happy and content at all times; And people with mental health problems.
Clearly, this is too simplistic. We all have periods in which our mental health might need a little more support. We all have mental health which we need to look after, just like our physical health. It's ok if you're noticing that your mental health has dipped recently, either a little or a lot. We don't feel in peak physical condition every day either.
But if you felt severely physically unwell, or if you felt not quite yourself for a couple of weeks, perhaps you should go to a doctor. The same is true of your mental health.
Where would you put yourself on this chart overall in the last week?
Please note that the things you might notice in yourself will be different for everyone- you won't experience all of the potential symptoms in each category, but you will know what is "normal" for you.
| In Crisis | What you might notice | What to do |
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Things sound really tough. We would recommend asking for help as soon as possible. If you need urgent help please call The Sussex Mental Health Line on 0800 0309 500, contact your GP, or you can attend an A&E department in an emergency. You may also benefit from reading below ways in which you might be able to help yourself. But don't expect too much of yourself at once- just a little at a time. |
| Struggling | What you might notice | What to do |
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We all have weeks like this, and it's very positive that you've noticed that things aren't quite right for you at the moment. You're probably wondering what you can do to improve things for yourself. Have a look at advice below about ways to improve your wellbeing. |
| Surviving | What you might notice | What to do |
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We all have weeks like this, and it's very positive that you've noticed that things aren't quite right for you at the moment. You're probably wondering what you can do to improve things for yourself. Have a look at advice below about ways to improve your wellbeing. |
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Thriving |
What you might notice |
What to do |
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That's great. It might be worth thinking about what it is that you're doing that is currently working so well for you, so that you can keep doing it. |
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Excelling |
What you might notice |
What to do |
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That's great. It might be worth thinking about what it is that you're doing that is currently working so well for you, so that you can keep doing it. |
Our key messages to you
- If you're having trouble coping, it's ok to ask for help.
- Staff in Mind is a confidential service that can offer you a one-to-one consultation with a clinician outside of your immediate organisation.
