Helping Each Other

• A small word, a little help, can make a big difference
• Help people to identify supports in their teams; buddy first, then team leader, then manager. Other team members may also be particularly supportive
• Be there for your colleagues and really listen. Offer practical support or advice when it’s needed
• A caring team is a strong team. It supports its members in difficult circumstances
• Allow time for discussion
• Encourage your colleagues to eat well, have regular sleep, be active (and remember this for yourself)
• Signpost colleagues to useful resources you have found online

• Genuine interest really helps, it's real ‘social scaffolding’
• Don’t approach others as having a problem that you have to fix

• People sometimes just need to tell you their story, to be heard, to be validated
• For others - they are processing stressful experiences by speaking them out loud

• Acts of kindness ripple across teams and services

• Hang in there. Do not start sprinting, it’s a marathon
• If you feel useless when you are off duty or can’t help, remember that it’s a bit like being part of a large sports-team – there are people waiting on the bench and they are just as crucial for team performance

• Identify the positives - those who are getting better, as well as upsetting events
• Accept the situation, remember your real skills and capabilities 
• Remember you have had to make really difficult decisions. You have done what anyone else in the same situation, with the same qualification as you, might well have done

• Discuss whether these periods should be spent quietly, shared with a buddy
• Look for moments every day, where you connect with someone, share something, promote peer support or enjoy something with a colleague

• Plan things that are pleasurable, rewarding, or a distraction from the work you do
• Have a virtual ‘work night out’. Here are some ideas:
  • Play a board game online against friends and colleagues
  • Microsoft Teams film viewing

• Make time to do something for yourself every day. This may of course be with your friends and family. You have spent so much of your day looking after other people
• Make yourself a warm drink, be together, watch some lightly entertaining tv; take some exercise if you can. Your organisation should provide you with information about how to care for yourself during this time. The NHS England People support pages offer more ideas
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are struggling. Lots of people will be feeling the same way as you
• If you are receiving care from a mental health service such as IAPT, these may be disrupted. You should seek to maintain contact, have reviews with your therapist and ensure you continue to take any prescribed medication

NHS Resource Page

NHS in Mind 
This site has several resources including box breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and meditation exercises.