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Mental Health and Wellbeing: Support at HDFT and HIF

Find out more about our range of in-house services, aimed at promoting and supporting and the mental health and wellbeing of colleagues.

Occupational Health and Wellbeing Service

  • Provides free advice, support and signposting for mental health and wellbeing needs.

Counselling via CiC:

Our employee assistance programme has a 24/7 telephone support with qualified counsellors for emotional, personal or work-related issues.

Available to all HDFT and HIF staff. Just call 0800 085 1376 (freephone). Or +44 ()) 20 7938 0963 outside the UK.

Mental Health Champions:

  • Mental Health Champions are volunteer colleagues who are passionate about better mental health. Their role is to promote positive mental health, raise awareness of mental health issues, challenge stigma and make it easier to have everyday conversations about mental health in a safe and non-judgemental environment.
  • They have had training to recognise the different signs and symptoms of mental distress and to be able to have supportive conversations and signpost colleagues to additional support where appropriate. They are not mental health professionals, therapists or counsellors, but can offer the best of peer support in moments of difficulty.
  • The Mental Health Champion role is open to members of staff with the enthusiasm and commitment to take part. You don’t need to have lived experience of mental health problems although this can be helpful, and training, support and on-going information is provided. If there is not already a Champion in your area and you think you might be interested in this important role, please contact [email protected] for more information.

THRIVE Wellbeing Conversations:

  • We want all colleagues to be having regular wellbeing conversations and to be aware of the range of support and resources available to them.
  • Thrive conversations comprise three simple questions: How are you? How is your wellbeing? How can we help you thrive?
  • Every employee should have a THRIVE conversation with their manager at least once a year, but you can request to have one at any time.
  • More information can be found on the staff intranet here: THRIVE (hdft.nhs.uk)

Mental Health Training and e-Learning

Mental Health Awareness: One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our life. This short, mandatory training gives a broad overview of mental health and some practical skills for recognising, supporting and signposting someone concerned about their mental health.

Suicide Awareness Training: The Zero Suicide Alliance have developed a short online course, available on Learning Lab. This aims to give you the skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. It also works toward breaking the stigma around suicide, encouraging people to have open conversations about their mental health.

 

HDFT Library

  • The library’s zoned Health and wellbeing area is the home to our collection of health and wellbeing books and information leaflets. These can be browsed whilst in the library or, if you are a registered library user, borrowed on a 4-week loan.  There are comfortable chairs and a sleep pod for relaxation.
  • The zone is available 24/7 to users registered with the library, and to all staff during library opening hours, Monday-Friday 9.30-4.30pm.

 

Chaplaincy Department

 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Staff Networks

  • We have a number of staff network groups which give our staff the chance to come together and discuss issues and share experiences, allowing their voice to be heard and to shape our organisation and improve equal opportunities.
  • Our current staff networks are: LGBTQ+, BAME, Disabilities and Long Term Conditions, Menopause, Men’s Health, Neurodiversity, Armed Forces and Working Families and Carers networks.
  • For more information see: Staff Networks (hdft.nhs.uk)