Advice for healthcare professionals

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Coronavirus and mental health > Coronavirus and your mental health > Advice for healthcare professionals

Last reviewed on 18 January 2021

Every day, doctors, nurses, paramedics, physiotherapists, cleaners, porters and thousands of other healthcare professionals across the UK are working tirelessly on the frontline of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. At this time, it is more vital than ever that you look after yourself, allow yourself to recognise the emotional challenges of your work and ask for support when you need it.

This video, created by doctors, psychologists and researchers at the NHS Traumatic Stress Clinic in London, the UCL Institute of Mental Health and the COVID Trauma Response Working Group, examines some of the main concerns you might have.

The NHS is providing a free, confidential staff support line. Call 0800 06 96 222 (7am - 11pm, seven days a week) or text FRONTLINE to 85258 for 24/7 support via text message. Find out more on the Our NHS People website.

A series of NHS-led webinars focused on supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of health and care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic has also been developed. Visit the Thrive LDN website to access the Keeping Well for Health and Care Workers webinars.

There are freely available Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs in each of the 5 London Integrated Care Systems (ICS). These are run by care professionals for care professionals, and you can find out more about what they offer in your area in the following ways;

In North West London (Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith & Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster); visit Keeping Well NWL or email Keepingwell.NWL@nhs.net
In North Central London (Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington); visit Keeping Well NCL or email nclinmind@tavi-port.nhs.uk
In North East London (Tower Hamlets, Newham, City of London, Hackney, Waltham Forest, Barking, Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering); visit Keeping Well NEL or email Keepingwell.NEL@nhs.net
In South East London (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham, Southwark); visit Keeping Well SEL or email keepingwellsel@slam.nhs.uk
In South West London (Richmond, Wandsworth, Kingston, Merton, Sutton, Croydon); visit SWL Support For Staff or email staff@swlondon.nhs.uk

10 ways to protect your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak

Stay connected to your colleagues, family, friends and other members of your support network and talk openly about how you’re feeling – call them, text them or have a video chat if you can’t see them in person. You can also contact the NHS staff support line.
Make sure you receive an effective safety induction, especially if you have been deployed to a new department, you’re newly-qualified or you’re returning to work to help fight COVID-19.
Raise any concerns you have with your line manager so they can support you.
Try to stick to your normal daily routine but recognise when you need to adapt.
Take time to wind down after work and try to get enough sleep – as an NHS employee, you currently get free access to Headspace and other wellbeing apps.
Avoid information overload – you might find it useful to limit how many times a day you check the news and social media.
Take care of yourself – try to eat healthily, stay hydrated, take breaks at work whenever you can, get some fresh air and exercise.
Know where you can go for support within your organisation (e.g. a drop-in group or one-to-one support) and outside of it (e.g. virtual staff common rooms and video counselling).
If you are a senior member of staff, check on your team members’ wellbeing regularly and offer a safe space for them to talk. REACT Mental Health conversation training is available – find out more on the Our NHS People website.
Recognise the enormous gratitude of everyone in the UK for your courage and compassion at this difficult time.

If you need urgent support, please contact Shout (text Shout to 85258) or Samaritans (call 116 123).

As London’s digital mental wellbeing service, Good Thinking has put together the information below to help you manage any concerns you might have about your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.

We have also gathered some useful resources to help you support your colleagues at this time.

As a healthcare professional, you have the knowledge and skills to limit the spread of infection but you might still worry about getting ill if you come into contact with patients with coronavirus.

You might find the following information about infection prevention, PPE and testing useful:

To help manage your anxiety:

Take the Good Thinking anxiety quiz so we can recommend useful apps and resources
Use the Good Thinking self-assessment tool to understand your anxiety better
Download the Headspace app – this is currently free for NHS staff with an NHS email address
Watch the COVID-19 Supporting Doctors stress and anxiety video
Read the NHS guidance on health anxiety
Visit the Anxiety UK website
Contact the NHS staff support line
NHS information about the COVID-19 vaccine and NHS press release about vaccinating staff

As you come under sustained pressure dealing with coronavirus, it’s important that you find ways to manage your stress levels and help your colleagues to do the same. Try to provide a listening ear and remind each other that you’ll get through this together.

Get advice from Good Thinking about dealing with stress
Listen to Good Thinking's podcast with Professor Neil Greenberg
Take the Good Thinking stress quiz to get access to useful apps and resources, including My Possible Self and Be Mindful
Use the Good Thinking self-assessment tool to understand your stress better
Get psychological first aid (PFA) training from FutureLearn
Download the Headspace app (this is currently free for NHS staff with an NHS email address) and check out the free online yoga classes for NHS staff
Watch the COVID-19 Supporting Doctors stress and anxiety video
Read this BMJ article about self-care
Read the NHS guidance on coping with stress
Contact the NHS staff support line

After a busy shift, you might find it difficult to switch off and unwind but it’s vital that you get enough sleep.

Get sleep advice from Good Thinking
Take the Good Thinking sleep quiz to get access to apps and other tools that will help you to sleep better, such as Calm and Be Mindful
Use the Good Thinking self-assessment tool to understand your sleep better
Watch the The Joyful Doctor’s video about COVID-19 and sleep disturbances among doctors
Read this BMJ article about self-care
Read this article about sleep by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Read the NHS guidance on how to get to sleep
Contact the NHS staff support line

Whether you have 40 years of experience or you’re new to the profession, looking after a patient who is seriously ill or dying is very difficult. Take a moment to acknowledge how you feel and remember, there is no right or wrong way to feel. You might find that you experience a range of emotions, including sadness, shock, anger, numbness and even guilt, and move between these feelings at different times.

Read the BMA guidance on ethical issues related to COVID-19 and coping with the death of a patient
Get advice from the Royal College of Nursing
Visit the Royal College of General Practitioners guidance on end of life care
Read the bereavement guidance for NHS Trusts
Visit the Cruse bereavement care website
Contact the NHS staff support line or the NHS bereavement support line

It’s vital that anyone with symptoms of coronavirus, including healthcare professionals, self-isolates in accordance with the official advice. Being at home might be challenging but there are some things you can do to help protect your mental wellbeing.

Read the Good Thinking article about how to look after your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
Take a look at the Good Thinking Q&A about staying mentally well during self-isolation
Read the Government advice on self-isolation
Visit the BMA website for advice about self-isolation
Contact the NHS staff support line

You might be worried about your family’s health, your children’s education and your household finances at this time. If you’re living apart from your family, you might also be concerned about the effect this separation is having on them.

Read Good Thinking’s advice for parents and carers
Follow the five ways to good mental wellbeing as a family
Read the Good Thinking article about dealing with job and financial uncertainty
Share Good Thinking's advice for children and young people whose parents are essential workers with your family
Listen to Good Thinking's podcast about supporting the whole family
Read Our NHS People's guide for key worker parents and carers
Read the Royal College of Nursing’s employment guidance
Get Family Lives’ tips about how to support your family during the coronavirus outbreak
Contact the NHS staff support line

Unfortunately, some of you might experience a negative reaction by members of your community due to stigma or fear. The NHS has a zero tolerance policy towards abusive behaviour.

See the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s response to incidents of abuse
Access the Health and Safety Executive’s advice about violence in health and social care
Read this BMJ article about social stigma
Get advice from UNICEF and WHO
Contact the NHS staff support line

Try to get your information from your employer and the NHS and Government websites only and limit how many times a day you check the news and social media.