Wellbeing hub to give emotional support to health and care workers
A digital "wellbeing hub" to support health and social care workers to manage the stress and trauma of the coronavirus pandemic has been launched by the Scottish Government.
The promis.scot website is said to be the first of its kind in the UK, providing workers in the sector with resources to look after their mental health and recognise their own "warning signs".
There a comprehensive guide of support available around the country, as well as messages of support for those on the front line of the crisis.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced the national wellbeing hub on Monday, saying it came at a "tremendously stressful" time for carers and health workers.
She said: "The hub, the first of its kind in the UK, has the theme ‘You look after us, so we’ll look after you’ and has been developed with the support of a range of organisations, including professional bodies and trades unions.
"It actively encourages people to make use of available services such local NHS helplines for staff across health and social care services, including care home workers."
She continued: "Protecting health and social care staff, wherever they work, continues to be a priority for the Scottish Government and this includes doing all we can to protect people’s mental health.
"That is why, in addition to the wellbeing hub, we will also be providing staff with access to coaching and the opportunity to shape our future policies through a new workforce wellbeing champion network."
The promis.scot site was created by teams of experts in psychological trauma based at NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
A poll for BMA Scotland, which represents doctors, recently found the outbreak had caused mental health problems for a quarter of doctors.
BMA Scotland chairman Dr Lewis Morrison said: "We welcome this move by the Scottish Government to introduce a wellbeing hub for all healthcare workers.
"This is a very difficult and trying time for doctors, nurses, carers and everyone else in the health profession – to have somewhere they can go for advice, mental health support and guidance on how to improve their wellbeing is extremely valuable.
"Healthcare workers are dealing with something most of us never thought we would experience in our careers and the long-term effects of that remain to be seen.
"The BMA in Scotland has been calling for a doctors’ health service for a long time and I hope this wellbeing hub is the first step towards that."
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