Category: mental health

Delegates support calls on wellbeing and health and safety

Delegates to UNISON’s health conference debated a series of motions under the collective heading of health, safety and wellbeing, on Monday and Tuesday afternoons.

“Let’s commit to fostering a workplace where every woman feels valued,” said Susan Parkinson (pictured above).

Moving a motion on women’s mental health at work for the national women’s committee, she explained that women experience higher levels of mental health problems than men.

Karen Buckley from Greater Manchester stated that 76% of the NHS staff are women. Alongside the fact that the majority of carers – paid and unpaid – are also women, and that low pay, the cost of living crisis and discrimination particularly affect women, it is little surprise that, as inequality has worsened, so mental health issues for women have increased.

“Most of all,” continued Ms Buckley, “we need social justice.”

Angie from the Homerton Hospital branch raised the issue of how being a Black women can intensify mental health problems, while a delegate from Northern Ireland, called out, to applause: “Stuff the stigma [around mental health]! Get the support from the people around you!”

Several delegates spoke movingly of their own experiences, as conference called on the service group executive to “work with the national women’s committee to campaign for mentally healthy workplaces where women can thrive”, and to “promote UNISON’s guide to bargaining on mental health to woman members working in the health sector, branch and regional women’s officers and self-organised groups”.

Brenda, moving a motion for the North West, pointed out that helping members deal with mental health issues “isn’t covered in the organising stewards’ course”. Delegates agreed that the executive should “encourage regions to provide training and guidance on signposting to help stewards support members who may be facing challenges with poor mental health.”

Delegates also backed motions calling for:

  • improved mental health access within the NHS
  • improved gender identity services and trans healthcare, as underfunding has turned the issue into a health and safety issue for NHS members
  • Long COVID to be recognised as a disability
  • the service group to encourage NHS organisations and outsourced providers of NHS services to sign up to the Sexual Safety Charter and support branches to work for full implementation of the charter.

A busy afternoon

Emma Dale addressing UNISON's health service group conference

On a busy Tuesday afternoon, delegates also discussed the issue of safe staffing within the health service – noting that this also has health and safety, and wellbeing considerations.

Moving the motion, Martin Mackay from Scotland said that, while the Health and Social Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, which has just come in to force, is welcome, it still does not include “all staff in our One Team”.

Emma Dale (pictured above) from South Wales gave an example of how not all NHS staff are covered. “I worked in forensic mental health,” she explained, so wasn’t covered. After an incident with a violent patient, she had to move from a job she loved into an admin post.

The article Delegates support calls on wellbeing and health and safety first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Delegates support calls on wellbeing and health and safety

Delegates to UNISON’s health conference debated a series of motions under the collective heading of health, safety and wellbeing, on Monday and Tuesday afternoons.

“Let’s commit to fostering a workplace where every woman feels valued,” said Susan Parkinson (pictured above).

Moving a motion on women’s mental health at work for the national women’s committee, she explained that women experience higher levels of mental health problems than men.

Karen Buckley from Greater Manchester stated that 76% of the NHS staff are women. Alongside the fact that the majority of carers – paid and unpaid – are also women, and that low pay, the cost of living crisis and discrimination particularly affect women, it is little surprise that, as inequality has worsened, so mental health issues for women have increased.

“Most of all,” continued Ms Buckley, “we need social justice.”

Angie from the Homerton Hospital branch raised the issue of how being a Black women can intensify mental health problems, while a delegate from Northern Ireland, called out, to applause: “Stuff the stigma [around mental health]! Get the support from the people around you!”

Several delegates spoke movingly of their own experiences, as conference called on the service group executive to “work with the national women’s committee to campaign for mentally healthy workplaces where women can thrive”, and to “promote UNISON’s guide to bargaining on mental health to woman members working in the health sector, branch and regional women’s officers and self-organised groups”.

Brenda, moving a motion for the North West, pointed out that helping members deal with mental health issues “isn’t covered in the organising stewards’ course”. Delegates agreed that the executive should “encourage regions to provide training and guidance on signposting to help stewards support members who may be facing challenges with poor mental health.”

Delegates also backed motions calling for:

  • improved mental health access within the NHS
  • improved gender identity services and trans healthcare, as underfunding has turned the issue into a health and safety issue for NHS members
  • Long COVID to be recognised as a disability
  • the service group to encourage NHS organisations and outsourced providers of NHS services to sign up to the Sexual Safety Charter and support branches to work for full implementation of the charter.

A busy afternoon

Emma Dale addressing UNISON's health service group conference

On a busy Tuesday afternoon, delegates also discussed the issue of safe staffing within the health service – noting that this also has health and safety, and wellbeing considerations.

Moving the motion, Martin Mackay from Scotland said that, while the Health and Social Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019, which has just come in to force, is welcome, it still does not include “all staff in our One Team”.

Emma Dale (pictured above) from South Wales gave an example of how not all NHS staff are covered. “I worked in forensic mental health,” she explained, so wasn’t covered. After an incident with a violent patient, she had to move from a job she loved into an admin post.

The article Delegates support calls on wellbeing and health and safety first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Mental health absences adding to NHS staffing crisis

NHS staffMore than three in ten (31%) NHS employees have had to take time off work with mental health issues in the past year, according to a UNISON survey published today (Sunday).

As the staffing crisis in the health service continues, the union says the findings – based on more than 12,000 health workers across the UK – show the effects of burnout among employees and mean many more could quit altogether.

Panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains and headaches are among physical signs of stress reported by nurses, porters, 999 call handlers and other NHS staff who completed the survey. Some also said they experienced depression, low mood, sleepless nights and flashbacks.

UNISON says workforce pressures are taking a huge toll as staff tackle a waiting list backlog, with many struggling to look after their wellbeing.

Stigma around anxiety and depression is still a major issue for health workers. Of those who were off with mental health problems, one in five did not tell their employer the real cause of their absence.

The main reason for this was they did not feel their manager or employer would be supportive (45%). More than one in five (22%) said they did not want their colleagues to know they had mental health issues.

Almost a quarter (24%) were able to ask their employer for help with their mental health in the previous 18 months. However, nearly half (48%) of those who took this step to share their issues said they did not feel supported.

UNISON says staff feel undervalued and frustrated with many quitting altogether for less stressful jobs that pay more.

The vast majority of those surveyed said better pay and recognition would make a difference to their wellbeing (89%). Safer staffing levels (82%), measures to stop bullying and harassment (68%) and a change in work pattern (58%) also scored highly, along with access to a 24-hour counselling service (51%) and to a wellbeing app (49%).

UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Many NHS staff are clearly at their limit. Burnout is a reality in every part of the health service, from hospital wards to ambulance stations.

“As more staff quit, the pressures increase for those still working in the NHS, and many are struggling to cope.

“No one should suffer stress-related issues such as panic attacks and chest pains because of their job. Employers must do more to recognise the overwhelming pressures on all NHS staff including healthcare assistants, cleaners and paramedics.

“The range of support available to workers experiencing mental health issues needs to be reviewed too. Managers must also ensure staffing levels are safe and that employees have regular breaks.”

Notes to editors:
– The survey was conducted from 19 February to 8 March and received 12,243 responses from staff working in healthcare across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, admin workers and cleaners.
– Below are some experiences of survey respondents:
“I went off sick with stress and high blood pressure due to workload and low staffing.” Admin worker, England
“I suffer sleep deprivation, anxiety and panic attacks. I don’t know who to speak to or trust.” Health improvement team worker, Scotland
“I’ve been getting panic attacks, anxiety and started having blood pressure problems.” Nursing associate, East of England
“I’ve been experiencing stress-related symptoms, headaches, palpitations and chest pain. The level of stress affects my home life as it causes worry and brain fog.” Nurse, Northern Ireland
– UNISON’s annual health conference takes place from tomorrow (Monday) to Wednesday 10 April at the Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2GR. Health workers from across the UK will be in attendance to debate a variety of motions including NHS pay, mileage rates, bank staff, shorter working weeks, support for healthcare students, tackling racism, mental health, sexual safety, healthcare assistant rebanding, artificial intelligence and safe staffing. UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea will address the conference on Tuesday morning.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794  E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Mental health absences adding to NHS staffing crisis first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Mental health absences adding to NHS staffing crisis

NHS staffMore than three in ten (31%) NHS employees have had to take time off work with mental health issues in the past year, according to a UNISON survey published today (Sunday).

As the staffing crisis in the health service continues, the union says the findings – based on more than 12,000 health workers across the UK – show the effects of burnout among employees and mean many more could quit altogether.

Panic attacks, high blood pressure, chest pains and headaches are among physical signs of stress reported by nurses, porters, 999 call handlers and other NHS staff who completed the survey. Some also said they experienced depression, low mood, sleepless nights and flashbacks.

UNISON says workforce pressures are taking a huge toll as staff tackle a waiting list backlog, with many struggling to look after their wellbeing.

Stigma around anxiety and depression is still a major issue for health workers. Of those who were off with mental health problems, one in five did not tell their employer the real cause of their absence.

The main reason for this was they did not feel their manager or employer would be supportive (45%). More than one in five (22%) said they did not want their colleagues to know they had mental health issues.

Almost a quarter (24%) were able to ask their employer for help with their mental health in the previous 18 months. However, nearly half (48%) of those who took this step to share their issues said they did not feel supported.

UNISON says staff feel undervalued and frustrated with many quitting altogether for less stressful jobs that pay more.

The vast majority of those surveyed said better pay and recognition would make a difference to their wellbeing (89%). Safer staffing levels (82%), measures to stop bullying and harassment (68%) and a change in work pattern (58%) also scored highly, along with access to a 24-hour counselling service (51%) and to a wellbeing app (49%).

UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Many NHS staff are clearly at their limit. Burnout is a reality in every part of the health service, from hospital wards to ambulance stations.

“As more staff quit, the pressures increase for those still working in the NHS, and many are struggling to cope.

“No one should suffer stress-related issues such as panic attacks and chest pains because of their job. Employers must do more to recognise the overwhelming pressures on all NHS staff including healthcare assistants, cleaners and paramedics.

“The range of support available to workers experiencing mental health issues needs to be reviewed too. Managers must also ensure staffing levels are safe and that employees have regular breaks.”

Notes to editors:
– The survey was conducted from 19 February to 8 March and received 12,243 responses from staff working in healthcare across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland including nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, admin workers and cleaners.
– Below are some experiences of survey respondents:
“I went off sick with stress and high blood pressure due to workload and low staffing.” Admin worker, England
“I suffer sleep deprivation, anxiety and panic attacks. I don’t know who to speak to or trust.” Health improvement team worker, Scotland
“I’ve been getting panic attacks, anxiety and started having blood pressure problems.” Nursing associate, East of England
“I’ve been experiencing stress-related symptoms, headaches, palpitations and chest pain. The level of stress affects my home life as it causes worry and brain fog.” Nurse, Northern Ireland
– UNISON’s annual health conference takes place from tomorrow (Monday) to Wednesday 10 April at the Brighton Centre, Kings Road, Brighton BN1 2GR. Health workers from across the UK will be in attendance to debate a variety of motions including NHS pay, mileage rates, bank staff, shorter working weeks, support for healthcare students, tackling racism, mental health, sexual safety, healthcare assistant rebanding, artificial intelligence and safe staffing. UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea will address the conference on Tuesday morning.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.

Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794  E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk

The article Mental health absences adding to NHS staffing crisis first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Rosena Allin-Khan shares Labour’s vision for mental health

The final day of UNISON’s 2023 national delegate conference opened with a speech from shadow minister for mental health, Rosena Allin-Khan MP (pictured).

Both a politician and a doctor, she opened her speech saying: “I am an NHS worker like so many of you in here today.”

“I want to thank you for all that you do. All the hours that you put in, even though you’ve been going through your own, personal, daily struggles. You are an incredible, powerful force for good.

“As a proud NHS doctor, when I’m able to, I put on my scrubs, I turn up and do my shifts at A&E.”

Drawing on her experiences in the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms Allin-Khan said: “While we gave our all to patients and their families waiting in line for PPE, Tory donors were lining their pockets.

“I remember the NHS staff I saw lying on ventilators when I worked in the ICU in hospitals.

“People like you and I who had gone in to save lives, but it cost them their lives. It was us who provided solace to terrified people. It was you and the people you support. And now we know as the country suffered, the Tories partied.”

Labour’s vision for mental health

Ms Allin-Khan went on to describe mental health as ‘core business’ for trade unions, explaining the systemic drivers of poor mental health, and what a Labour government will do about it: “It is so important that we tackle the root causes of ill health: poverty, ill housing, polluted air, unhealthy food, overwork and stress.

“We need a system which prevents ill health, which allows us to live longer lives and be healthier for longer, no matter our social class or what we do for a living.”

Ms Allin-Khan explained that a Labour government would “stop mental health policy from being placed in a silo” and “bring in long-term, whole government planning for improving mental health outcomes and mental health in all policies. 

“Labour ministers will allow mental health its fair share of funding. The first job of a Labour government is to remove preventable pain and avoidable disease from the lives of our citizens.”

She also explained the importance of international solidarity, citing her experience working as a doctor in Palestinian refugee camps and training doctors and taking medical aid to Ukraine, and declaring the need for Britain to remain an “interconnected global village not an isolated island with a drawbridge up.”

She said: “We must be an open country, welcoming refugees and celebrating the immigrants who live, work and study here.”

Finally, she praised UNISON’s steadfastness in “opposing Tory dogma and lies”, celebrating members as “ceaseless champions for fairness and justice.”

Ms Allin-Khan was met with a standing ovation from UNISON delegates.

The article Rosena Allin-Khan shares Labour’s vision for mental health first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Health workers and activists endure “unrelenting stress”

Delegates at UNISON’s health conference in Bournemouth this week shared harrowing experiences of how they and their fellow members are suffering the mental toll of their duties and workplace experiences, through and beyond the pandemic.

The persistent theme was of a workforce hellbent on protecting the public – and, in the case of activists, protecting their fellow members – while paying the price in their own deteriorating health and wellbeing.

Martin McKay, of Scotland region, summed up a health crisis within the health service, when he said: “Everyone in this room is carrying the trauma of the last three years. It’s important we learn from that shared experience.”

Numerous motions charted the different mental health pressures that UNISON health members are under.

A familiar one was on ambulance staff, who delegates heard were experiencing “unrelenting stress”, not just from the increasing pressure caused by underfunding and the longest waiting times ever recorded, but also the frustration felt by crews “who want to do their very best for patients, but cannot because it is out of their control.”

One member spoke of “the devastating affect on staff on the ground. Mental health is through the floor.”

The result is work-related anxiety spilling over to the rest of their lives and record numbers of ambulance staff leaving the service.

As Jo Fowles (above) of South West Ambulance branch put it: “The escalating pressure is taking a terrible toll on many at work. It means that large numbers of staff are voting with their feet and saying ‘enough is enough’.

“Many parts of the service are already badly understaffed, so we can’t afford to lose any more workforce. In my trust, at one stage we were experiencing 30 resignations a month, an average of one a day. And we can’t replace those people, because recruitment is also a problem.”

This affected all four of the UK nations, she said, with the need to “ratchet up the pressure on politicians to end the crisis and fund our NHS service properly.”

Another motion spoke of the mental health illness of Black staff in the NHS, for whom experiences of racism, discrimination and inequity, and the difficulties experienced by overseas workers when relocating to the UK, all add to the pressures on psychological wellbeing.

These issues were compounded by the lack of understanding and culturally aware care shown towards Black members suffering from mental illness.

Mr McKay (above) proposed the motion ‘supporting NHS workers who experience declining mental health’, which noted that the last few years have shown an increasing deterioration in the mental health of workers in public services, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increasing levels of stress in workplaces can lead to workers developing PTSD, unless they receive timely and appropriate support, the motion said.

In October 2022, for example, NHS Lothian reported that more than half (52%) of the board’s sickness absence was due to anxiety, stress, depression or other psychiatric illness.

At the same time, the motion noted that LGBT+ NHS workers are experiencing poorer work-related wellbeing and struggles with their wider mental and psychological heath – exacerbated for trans, non-binary and gender diverse workers.

The motion calls on the health service group executive to work with other committees to identify areas of good practice for mental health campaigning amongst UNISON branches, and promote those throughout the union; and to work with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland health committee to ensure that health employers understand their responsibilities in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their staff.

Mr McKay, a mental health nurse for 35 years, hoped that the motion would guide delegates towards “a new work environment, a mentally healthy workplace, where those who need the most assistance and support, receive that support.”

During a debate on the need for more health and safety officers, conference heard that existing reps “got us through the pandemic. What was already terrible could have been so much worse.”

But, adding a bitter twist to these debates, was the news that UNISON branch officers and activists were suffering themselves, due to the affects of trying to help their members through one national crisis after another.

Proposing the motion ‘Supporting the health and wellbeing of health branch officers and representatives’, Peter McKinlay of Lanarkshire Health branch (above) told delegates: “Being a UNISON activist is not something that you can switch off at the end of your shift or when you log out of your PC. You don’t switch off from difficult conversations that you have with your members, or with managers.

“Sometimes, as activists, you forget to take care of your own mental health,” he continued. “We share the life experiences of our members – and those shared experiences have an adverse effect on activists’ mental health and wellbeing.”

He said that inadequate facility time for activists continued to be a problem, and many were facing burnout.

Ayesha Johnstone, of Northumberland & Tyne & Wear Health branch (above) also spoke of the “unprecedented pressures” on reps.

“It is increasingly difficult for activists to get time off. We must ensure we give activists the full support they need to protect their mental health and wellbeing.”

Images: Jess Hurd

The article Health workers and activists endure “unrelenting stress” first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Delegates call for help to combat the epidemic of male suicide

A busy afternoon at UNISON’s disabled members’ conference today was dominated by a harrowing debate on men and mental health yesterday, which heard testimony from delegates about their personal experiences of male friends or relatives who had taken their own lives.

In 2020, 75% of those who took their own lives in the UK were male, with 4,880 men and boys ending their lives – equating to 12 deaths every day of the year.

While people of all genders experience mental health problems, gender stereotypes mean that men’s mental health problems often go unnoticed.

An incredibly moving speech from one delegate whose own son had ended his life on the epidemic of male suicide in the UK, was followed by a delegate who works in mental health in the North West, who spoke of spending his working days stopping patients trying to end their lives.

“This is real,” he said: “This is massive, because guys won’t say nothing”.

That was a recurring theme – of men who are told to ‘man up’, who have been taught that showing emotion is weak and that talking about how they feel is as bad.

Another delegate talks of how her nephew ended his own life, and how now, his son is struggling, and constantly asks: “Why did he do it when he was loved?” And the delegate said: “And I can’t answer, because I don’t know”.

Once again, the lack of communication for Deaf people was highlighted, as it makes it harder for those who are entertaining suicidal thoughts to access help.

Another delegate told of his own suicide attempt, after an upbringing that never allowed men to talk or acknowledge emotions.

He went on to says that he is now involved in Men do Talk, a campaign in Scotland, encouraging men to be able to open up.

Conference voted to call on the national committee to:

  • develop a campaign to raise awareness of male mental health;
  • consider whether the safe place referred to in a motion to June’s national delegate conference could be extended to include a safe space where men can share and discuss their experiences of mental health;
  • provide details of appropriate sources of help via the UNISON website.

If you are struggling, the Samaritans are available to listen, 24/7, every day of the year

Conference also passed a motion from the disabled LGBT+ caucus, which called for the national committee to raise awareness of the Conservative government’s “declared intention of replacing the 1988 Human Rights Act with a bill of rights, which we call the ‘Removal of Rights Bill’,” said Carl for the caucus.

Disabled and LGBT+ people rely heavily on the protections of the Human Rights Act. “Many disabled people have to use to articles in the courts to access public services to live independently,” he explained, but the proposed bill of rights could see rights removed rather than improved.

“We need to be monitoring what’s going on – we have a fight on our hands to protect out rights.”

The article Delegates call for help to combat the epidemic of male suicide first appeared on the UNISON National site.