A NEW mental health hotline has been launched to help NHS workers across the Midlands continue their vital work helping people deal with coronavirus.
The line, introduced by NHS England and NHS Improvement, offers a free phoneline or text service staffed by thousands of specially-trained volunteers who can offer support and advice on the pressures they face during the global health emergency.
Anyone needing further help will be signposted to other services, ranging from practical and financial assistance to specialist bereavement and psychological support.
The phone line will be open between 7am and 11pm every day, while the text service is available 24/7.
It is part of a package of extensive measures being brought in by the NHS to help provide expert care to patients during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Steve Morrison, NHS England and NHS Improvement Midlands’ regional director, said: “As the pandemic continues, our people will face new and growing challenges on a daily basis and it’s therefore more important than ever that they are able to access resources to help them manage their well-being in a way that suits their needs.”
He added everything possible needed to be done for NHS staff as they cared for people throughout the pandemic.
“The NHS is rightly doing everything we can for our staff, but the best thing the public can do for nurses, doctors and other NHS staff is to protect them by staying indoors and washing your hands.”
The lines will be staffed by more than 1,500 volunteers who have come from charities including Hospice UK, the Samaritans and Shout.
The NHS has also partnered with Headspace, UnMind and Big Health to offer a suite of apps for no charge to assist staff with their mental health.
The apps offer support in everything from guided meditation, tools to battle anxiety and help with sleep problems.
