Welcome to talking wellness, Kent and Medway’s staff mental health and wellbeing service.
The intensity of work NHS and social care staff are facing continues to take its toll on the health and wellbeing of the local workforce.
It means supporting the psychological wellbeing of our people is something that has never been more important.
talking wellness is a safe and confidential space for NHS and social care staff working across Kent and Medway.
Staff can check in, see how they’re feeling and understand what, if any, additional support they might need.
Our team of mental health professionals can provide a variety of psychological wellbeing help, support, and advice.
If face-to-face time with one of the talking wellness team is needed, that can be arranged too, either in person or, if preferred, by video.
Confidentiality
Any information provided remains confidential, however, if there is a safeguarding risk to the member of staff, or anyone else (particularly a child or vulnerable adult) then this may need to be explored a little further; and with a person’s consent, we can liaise with other services on their behalf too.
Getting in touch
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a member of the talking wellness team, please email kmpt.wellbeingwebsite@nhs.net
If you would like to refer yourself directly into the talking wellness hub, please say hello to Limbic, our automated chatbot.
The office is staffed Monday to Friday, between 9am and 5pm, however, recognising that these times may not always be convenient for staff, we are also able to offer some appointments on a flexible basis if needed. Access to Limbic is available 24/7.
Staff can contact their respective talking wellness clinician direct.
Access free, on-site, mental health and wellbeing support from a dedicated clinical psychologist and a high intensity therapist from the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) service, working from the following sites:
- Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Canterbury
- Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Margate
- William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
- Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham
- Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford
- Maidstone Hospital
- Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
These on-line mental health wellbeing check-ins are additional support to that already provided for staff via their own trusts and organisations.
Other mental wellbeing support
Release the Pressure
Text KENT or MEDWAY to 85258 or phone 0800 107 0160 for free confidential support at any time.
Free expert advice from trained counsellors is available for every mental health concern. Visit Release the Pressure to find out more.
Listening Line
For all NHS staff. 7am to 11pm. Call 0300 131 7000
Samaritans
Call 116 123
Email jo@samaritans.org (will respond within 24 hours)
Mail - send a letter to Freepost SAMARITANS LETTER
Find out more at www.samaritans.org
Bereavement and loss support
7am to 11pm. Call 0300 303 4434.
SHAPE Recovery is an outreach programme offering evidence-based wellbeing support for healthcare staff who have worked with people with Covid-19.
You will receive confidential, personalized one-to-one coaching, with weekly opportunities over a six-week period to speak with a trained coach, who is completely independent to your employer.
You will have direct access to evidence-based treatment for traumatic stress or depression, should you need it.
SHAPE offers practical tools supported by science to help in the here and now and aims to prevent stress reactions from developing with future waves of the pandemic.
Find more information at www.shaperecovery.com
www.people.nhs.uk is a national resource set up to help you manage your own health and wellbeing while looking after others.
Alongside information about support available to you, the website includes short guides to help support you with skills and new ways to improve your experience of work.
The guides were developed with experts and cover topics, such as personal resilience, support for line managers and how to run your own 10-minute Pause Space.
Visit www.people.nhs.uk to find out more.
While it’s normal to struggle at the moment, looking out for signs in yourself and others of more significant distress can help you or a colleague access support.
NHS South East Leadership Academy has published tips, resources and signposting to help you find the right support for you and your teams, including advice for:
• Understanding your needs
• Working in high-risk areas
• Working remotely and shielding
• Staying well
• Patients and carers
• Bereavement and grief.
You can access these resources via the Academy’s Looking After Our People page.
NHS staff have been given free access to a number of wellbeing apps to support our mental health and wellbeing.
From mindfulness and meditation sessions to help reduce stress and build resilience with Headstart to support to help you to improve your quality of sleep via Sleepio, you just need to use your nhs.net email to download them.
You can find out more via NHS England’s Supporting Our NHS People wellbeing apps page.