Mental health help and support over the COVID-19 pandemic is the focus of a health team’s latest campaign.
Our centralised outpatients team is highlighting the issue as part of its ‘March on with mental health’ awareness month.
The service has created a wall of positivity on the public boards in all of the waiting areas in our outpatient departments.
Lisa Tomlinson, the team’s health promotion lead, said: “We know how challenging the last few months have been for all of us – staff and the entire community.
“Mental health affects people in different ways. What doesn’t seem much to you can mean the whole world to someone else.
“But our message is one of positivity – to keep smiling, keep shining and be there for each other.
“Happier times are on the way. Together as an organisation and as a community, we are stronger.
“As a Trust, we also already have so much support for our staff, whether that is help and advice from experts, activities to help with mental health and places in the organisation to go to relax and recharge.”
Help offered includes:
- A psychology support hub
- Chaplaincy support
- Occupational health service
- A new dedicated wellbeing guardian
There are activities such as mindfulness, pilates and yoga, as well as wellbeing Rainbow Rooms at both hospital sites at North Tees and at Hartlepool from funding raised by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore.
More information
For more information about the support we offer staff, visit our staff wellbeing support page.
For more information about accessing mental health services, visit the NHS website.