Inspirational posters, mindfulness apps, and free yoga sessions – on paper these sound lovely, and sure to warm the hearts of weary NHS staff. So why does the mention of these workplace wellbeing initiatives so often trigger an eye-rolling response?
Our relationships with our employers are complicated. Often we feel so bruised and battered by our work that it’s hard to receive any form of nurture from the workplace. We can find ourselves feeling very cynical about these offers, and perhaps dismissing them.
For many these initiatives are perceived as, at best, a sticking plaster for wounds that run far too deep, and at worst, deliberate attempts to distract from damaging organisational systems. A “prime” example from another industry is the Amazon ZenBooth. This has been purported to offer warehouse workers a space to “recharge and re-energize” with the help of an online programme inside what looks like an upcycled phone booth. Critics suggest that what workers really need is adequate rest breaks, a safe working environment, and less punitive productivity measures. They argue that the ZenBooth is a convenient (and relatively cheap) way to fob off complaints about how badly their staff are treated.
We know that the NHS faces significant challenges in terms of relentless workloads, sickness rates, recruitment and retention – all issues that contribute to staff stress. We know that a few pretty posters and a mindful body scan aren’t going to solve these issues. But are we in danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater if we reject these offers?
Managing the stressor AND the stress
In a previous blog I outlined the relationship between our ‘tricky brains’ and our stress response. I made the point that we need to ensure we deal with the stressor as well as the stress. It is important to use our resources to tackle the sources of stress – as far as those are within our sphere of influence, and assuming we have resources to spare.
But it is also important that we deal with the impact of these stressors on our bodies and mind – in other words to deal with the stress itself, apart from the stressor. This is even more important when the stressor itself is outside of our control.
So when it comes to workplace wellbeing initiatives it is true that they won’t solve the fundamental problems facing NHS staff – but they might be really helpful in managing the impact of this stress on you. They don’t replace the need for policy change, better funding, advocacy, protest and collective action. Whatever the conscious or unconscious motives behind these initiatives, you can still take from them what’s good for you.
Staff wellbeing developments
Since the start of the Covid pandemic huge strides have been taken in recognising the importance of supporting the psychological wellbeing of NHS staff. Some great work has been achieved such as hospitals setting up “wobble rooms”, and access to psychologists redeployed to supporting staff. These initiatives provide important opportunities for psychological first aid.
Sadly though, I have heard from staff I work with that many of these initiatives have now been removed. This seems to be an attempt to refocus energies and resources on looming waiting lists. We know, however, that it is often once a crisis has past that people are most likely to need support, as they start to process and take stock of the trauma they have been through. It’s also clear that while we are likely to be past the peak of the pandemic, many hospitals and community services are still in crisis. I am hopeful, though, that the introduction of staff mental health and wellbeing hubs across England, will offer a more sustainable system of support.
There has also been wonderful work done by third sector organisations such as Frontline19 and Project5 which provide frontline workers with free, rapid access to qualified mental health support. You can find details of these free sources of support here.
Next Steps
So, if you are struggling, know that there are lots of avenues for support out there. Your workplace is likely to offer a variety of things to support your wellbeing – take advantage of whatever is going to be helpful for you, no matter what you think of the motivation behind it. Know that you are not alone and that you can access confidential support through your local staff mental health and wellbeing hub, and third sector organisations. If you want to consider private therapy book a call with me to have a think about whether I might be a good fit for what you need.
