Celebrating six months of success for Duty to Care
It’s been a whirlwind six months for new wellbeing and mental health charity Duty to Care since launching in March 2020. The charity founders are celebrating a successful few months of supporting NHS workers throughout COVID-19 and look forward to continuing to support workers long after the pandemic is over.
Among the many NHS workers who have signed up to the service are doctors, nurses, paramedics and other NHS workers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These key workers have gained access to a huge range of counsellors, PTs, nutritionists, CBT therapists and many more.
Feedback from Duty to Care’s service users:
“I can honestly say that during the Covid19 pandemic the most helpful support I received was through Duty To Care. Their kindness, compassion, generosity and wealth of support has literally sustained me.” – Helen, NHS worker
“It has been a rubbish few months. My husband has cystic fibrosis so at the start of lockdown we decided I had to move out. I really needed something to help me through this difficult phase, and Duty To Care was incredible.” – Jenny, NHS worker
“I feel I am now comfortable enough to deal with my anxieties and mental health on my own. The counselling I received through DTC was very beneficial, and it helped me greatly. I would definitely recommend DTC – I think it is a brilliant system that will continue to help many people.” – Anon, NHS worker
Duty to Care’s survey reveals mental health struggles of NHS workers:
The charity also organised for a survey that delved into the mental health struggles faced by NHS workers and showed how the wellbeing of staff has been affected in 2020. The goal was to learn how Duty to Care could improve the service it provides for users, but the statistics revealed a great deal more, particularly among those who have not yet used the DTC service.
Nearly three quarters (74%) of NHS professionals admit that their mental health and general well-being has been affected since the start of the pandemic
Respondents report they are suffering from anxiety (70%), sleep problems (64%), depression or low mood (51%), irritability (49%) and poor self-esteem (27%)
60 per cent admitted they have not considered accessing support for these issues
Shame and embarrassment (23%) cited as key barrier to seeking help
Just under three quarters (74%) of NHS workers said they do not prioritise their own mental health and well-being
The Duty To Care survey gained national media coverage and was featured both on the Telegraph and in The Times. Charity founder Harriet Hunt said: “We hope is that this will continue to raise awareness, so that more NHS workers know about the services we can provide.”
What’s next? Expectations for the coming months:
Duty to Care psychologists have informed us that they fully expect to see a rise in demand for support amongst NHS workers in the coming weeks:
“My concern is that we may see higher rates of PTSD going forwards because of the prolonged and complex nature of the pandemic, the fact that COVID has separated many from their usual support networks (a crucial factor in preventing severe trauma reactions) and the fact that our population of healthcare professionals were already quite stressed, vulnerable and on the edge of burnout before COVID came along. COVID may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many.” – Caroline, Psychologist
“A lot of people have realised we need to look after our mental health in order to increase career longevity in the NHS. Where NHS staff might not seek advice from their own GP, Duty to Care can provide an outside service. There can be a stigma attached to a health professional going to see their GP. There is that fear of being treated differently in the workplace, or even the fear of being on medication. It’s nice to have the support at work, but sometimes it’s also nice to speak to a therapist outside of the NHS- especially those who are wellbeing experts in mindfulness, nutrition and exercise.” – Serena Rakha, Birmingham based GP and medical advisor to DTC
Charity founder Harriet Hunt said:
“COVID-19 aside, since its inception Duty To Care’s aim was to provide support on an ongoing basis to healthcare workers at any time, who for whatever reason feel mentally strained as a result of their work. The autumn has historically been cited as the most high-pressured period for NHS workers, with team changes and an increase in seasonal illnesses. As such we are preparing for an up take in sign-ups and an increase in sessions required.”
You can sign up to Duty to Care and get access to the full directory of wellbeing services here.