Mental Health

One in four adults will deal with a mental health issue each year. We recognise that working for the NHS may be physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding and that the mental health of our staff matters.

We are dedicated to making sure that staff have the support they need at work.

How can I maintain my mental health?

Everybody needs to take care of their mental health on a regular basis.

Perhaps you've thought about joining a gym in order to look after your physical well-being. 

What daily activities do you perform to take care of your mental health? 

The NHS Every Mind Matters website offers individualised action plans, useful recommendations, and professional assistance with mental health.

What mental health support is available at NUH

What mental health services are available at NUH?

NON-URGENT SUPPORT

What mental health services are available outside of NUH?

URGENT SUPPORT:

  • Call 999 or go to the emergency department in the event of a life-threatening situation.
  • For non-emergency medical advice that is urgent, dial NHS 111. More information about 111.

    People of all ages, including children, who are in crisis or concerned family and loved ones can now call 111, select the mental health option and speak to a trained mental health professional.

    NHS staff can guide callers with next steps such organising face-to-face community support or facilitating access to alternatives services, such as crisis cafés or safe havens which provide a place for people to stay as an alternative to A&E or a hospital admission.

  • Nottinghamshire Mental Health Crisis Line: Open 24/7 to assist anyone in immediate need or crisis. Call 0808 196 3779.
  • Shout 85258: A free and confidential mental health text service for healthcare staff. Text FRONTLINE to 85258 for support 24/7.
  • If you need to talk to someone. the Samaritans are always available to help if you need to chat with someone, day or night. Call 116 123.

NON-URGENT SUPPORT:

  • See your GP. You can book an emergency appointment if your symptoms are serious,. They may offer you treatments like talking therapy, medication, or different treatment options.
  • Self-refer to a psychological talking therapies service without needing to see your GP. They offer therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) for common problems like stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, and phobias. Find your local service.
    Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies offer self-referrals over the phone on 0333 188 1060, or you can email them at notts.iapt.admin@notts-talk.co.uk.
  • If you live in Nottingham, you can view support available here.
  • Carers: Get support from the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub.

I’m worried about a colleague; what should I do?

  1. Talk to them. Ask how they are feeling. You don’t need to be an expert, and you don’t need to have all the answers, but showing that you are willing to listen can make a significant difference.
  2. If you’re not sure what to say: Have a look at the advice from Mind on ‘How to support a colleague’ (click here) and Samaritans on ‘How to have a difficult conversation’. Also, encourage them to look at this page so that they are aware of the support available.
  3. If you think that someone may be in mental health crisis: Get urgent help for mental health.

Mental Health Workshops & Training for NUH Staff

Browse through our upcoming workshops and sign up.

Psychological First Aid Training

This 1 and a half hour workshop, run by our Staff Wellbeing Clinical Psychologist and Assistant Psychologist which aims to train staff to offer psychological first aid (PFA).

PFA is a compassionate, supportive, and flexible conversation with another person who is suffering because of a traumatic, upsetting or distressing situation. PFA can help reduce distress and can foster short- and long-term adaptive & healthy functioning and coping.

The workshop allows you to develop your confidence in developing skills and knowledge including :

  • How to help a person access their basic needs
  • How to facilitate conditions to help a person feel safe,
  • How to comfort and console a person
  • How to ‘listen’ to a person
  • How to help a person feel calmer
  • How to help a person connect with others & access information & additional services
  • How to help a person to help themselves

There is also a 2 hour version for staff with managerial or supervisory responsibilities.

Understanding and Soothing Anxiety (2-part session)

Part 1:  Find out how anxiety impacts our body and brain, including information on CBT and guidance on looking after yourself. 

Part 2:  Discover what tools and techniques that will help soothe your stress and anxiety, including a CBT practice activity and mindfulness exercise.

Nurturing the Nervous System

Explore how you can nurture your nervous system after times of stress and learn breathing techniques to help nourish your nervous system.

In this session we will explore our nervous system, to understand its functions and how we can nuture it after times of stress to restore balance in the body. The second half of the session will be a practical guide on a range of breathing techniques to help regulate and nourish your nervous system, allowing us to transition into a more relaxed state.

Understanding and Soothing Low Mood and Depression (2-part session)

Part 1:  By exploring the differences between low-mood and depression, you will learn how experiences of psychological, social and biological contexts contribute to a person’s wellbeing. Additionally covering treatments that are available (recommended by NICE guidelines). 

Part 2:  Learn how to nourish and look after yourself and others experiencing symptoms of low-mood and depression. Focusing on self-care, social connection, behavioural activation models such as CBT, Mindfulness, compassion focused therapy and techniques that will help soothe symptoms.

Suicide Awareness

Would you like to learn more about supporting colleagues, especially when they are having suicidal thoughts and feelings?

This workshop aims to help you understand more about suicide, those who are at risk, and the factors that can increase someone’s risk of taking their own life. It covers why it can be scary to talk about suicide, stigma and suicide, and recognising signs. Finally it will offer some helpful ways we can talk to a colleague who might be having suicidal thoughts and feelings and will also provide information for where support can be accessed.   

This is an information giving workshop facilitated by one of our Clinical Psychologists and will last approximately 2 hours.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Support

Sometimes known as  ‘winter depression’, this is a seasonal depression that comes and goes in patterns, due to imbalances in hormones and lack of sunlight. Typical symptoms include:

  • a persistent low mood
  • a loss of pleasure or interest in normal everyday activities
  • irritability
  • feelings of despair, guilt and worthlessness
  • feeling lethargic (lacking in energy) and sleepy during the day
  • sleeping for longer than normal and finding it hard to get up in the morning
  • craving carbohydrates and gaining weight
  • difficulty concentrating
  • decreased sex drive

You should consider seeing your GP when you think you might have SAD, or are struggling to cope. Lifestyle changes can help treat SAD, such as getting lots of natural sunlight, exercising regularly, sleeping consistently and  positively coping with your stress. Other treatments include:  light therapy,  talking therapies  and prescribed medications.

Moving Towards Assertiveness

Explore different methods in gently moving towards being more assertive

This workshop will explore different communication styles, look at models and barriers to being assertive and offer strategies in gently moving towards being more assertiveness.

The Power of Nature

Explore why connecting with nature can help boost our mental and physical wellbeing.

This session will explore why connecting with nature can help boost our mental and physical wellbeing. This short session will look at some of the physiological and psychological benefits of connecting with nature, and how we can begin to access and appreciate the natural world in our everyday lives.

 

Manager Training:

REACT Mental Health Conversation Training (For Managers only)

The REACT-MH technique comprises: Recognise, Engage, Actively listen, Check risk, and Talk about specific actions and is underpinned by psychologically sound principles.

This short REACT Mental Health training session will enable you to

  • Identify people in your team who may be struggling with their mental health,
  • Initiate a supportive wellbeing conversation,
  • Confidently hold the conversation using active listening skills
  • Signpost them to appropriate support.

You will gain new knowledge and have a chance to put this into practice during the session.

Leading a Healthy Workforce (For Managers only)

This half-day course has been designed to support NUH in becoming a mentally healthy workplace.

The course is aimed at managers and other staff who have line management responsibilities (such as return to work interviews, pastoral care and appraisals). The course will be a mix of presentations, discussions and practical exercises covering:

  • Understanding psychological health at work
  • Creating a psychologically healthy workplace
  • The impact of supportive leadership behaviour
  • How to have a conversation about mental health
  • Managing your own mental health
  • Sources of support & where to find further information

Free NHS Access to Mental Health Apps & Services

Free access to the Headspace app for NHS colleagues

All NUH staff can get access to stress reduction resources for a further three months until 31st March 2025. To sign up to Headspace use your NHS email account.

Free access to the Unmind app for NHS colleagues

Get unlimited access to amazing wellbeing resources for the next year until 31st December 2024. To sign up to Unmind, use your NHS email account. 

SHOUT Text Service

If you need someone to talk to, you can access support by texting FRONTLINE to 85258 for free 24/7 confidential support, available for all NHS colleagues who have had a tough day, feel worried, overwhelmed, or have a lot on their mind and need to talk it through.

How does NUH show its commitment to staff mental health?

NUH is an Equal Opportunities Employer

This means that we recruit, train and support our staff on the basis of their skills and experience. We do not discriminate against staff on the basis of a mental or physical disability.

NUH has signed the  Time to Change Workforce pledge  

We pledge to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues at work. Organisations who take the Pledge and put their Action Plan in place have found that employees report feeling more supported about issues concerning mental health, are more willing to disclose their personal lived experience, and are more confident about making managers and colleagues aware of their experience.

NUH is a Mindful Employer

This means that we take an active and positive approach to mental health and we have information packs for staff on staying mentally healthy at work and for managers on supporting staff experiencing mental health problems.

Policies

Several of our policies support staff mental health and take a proactive and preventative approach, including the Flexible Working Policy and the Wellbeing and Attendance Management Policy.

Staff Mental Health Shared Governance Council 

This is a team of NUH front-line staff from a variety of professions and banding levels that are passionate about improving staff mental health and making long-term, sustainable changes within the Trust. To find out more, contact the staff wellbeing team at  nuhnt.staffwellbeing@nhs.net.

Charter for Employers Positive About Mental Health

As an employer we recognise that in the UK, people experiencing mental ill health continue to report stigma and discrimination at work. Having signed the "Charter for Employers Positive about Mental Health", we are committed to creating a supportive and open culture, where colleagues feel able to talk about mental health confidently, and aspire to appropriately support the mental wellbeing of all staff.

As an employer, we have made an ongoing commitment to:
  • Provide non-judgemental and proactive support to staff experiencing mental ill health.
  • Not make assumptions about a person with a mental health condition and their ability to work.
  • Be positive and enabling towards all employees and job applicants with a mental health condition.
  • Support line managers in managing mental health in the workplace.
    Ensure we are fair in the recruitment of new staff in accordance with the Equality act (2010).
  • Make it clear that people who have experienced mental ill health will not be discriminated against, and that disclosure of a mental health problem will enable both the employee and employer to assess and provide the right level of support or adjustment.

First Signed: 10th July 2009
Last Reviewed: 23rd August 2022
Neil Pease, Chief People Officer