Supporting Healthcare Staff this Mental Health Week
15 October 2021
This Mental Health Week, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian Branch (ANMF) is calling on members to check in with one another.
The ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said today, “this is an opportunity for nurses, midwives, and care workers to connect with their friends and colleagues to ask, listen, and support one another.
“The past 18 months have been an incredibly difficult and stressful time for all nurses, midwives, care workers, and their families. Taking a moment to ask colleagues and family if they’re okay is so important.”
The unprecedented and evolving challenges of COVID-19 mean that healthcare professionals have experienced circumstances they may never again experience in their working lives.
“COVID-19 has affected each and every one of us, but for healthcare professionals this has been particularly trying.
“Nurses, midwives and care workers have been thanked and acknowledged, but many don’t realise the ongoing challenges of under resourcing and high workloads continues to have an adverse outcome on many.
“Nurses, midwives, and care workers spend so much time – particularly as we face a global pandemic – caring for others without a second thought for their own wellbeing and all health care employers must ensure that they are meeting their employees mental health needs” Ms Shepherd said.
The ANMF has continued to support members during this time, offering advice and promoting available resources, including the Nurses and Midwives support line which is available 24/7 for all nurses and midwives. In addition, the ANMF lobbied the Department of Health to offer broader Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) to employees, which resulted in an additional four providers being offered to public sector nurses and midwives.
“We encourage all nurses, midwives, and care workers to take time for themselves and take steps to stay connected. We continue to remind members to ask for help if they need it and reach out to Nurse & Midwife Support to ensure they get support from those who understand what it is like to work in the healthcare profession and provide advice specific to the needs of the individual,” Ms Shepherd said.
Media contact:
Emily Shepherd,
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary
Mobile: 0400 884 021
Email: Emily.Shepherd@anmftas.org.au