Here at the hospice, we have a brilliant network of Mental Health First Aiders who meet every couple of months to support each other and think about how they can best support staff who ask for our help. The Mental Health First Aiders come from all across the organisation, from retail to the In-Patient Unit, Community Nursing Team to Housekeeping, and Yeovil and Taunton – they are available for a chat and can signpost our staff to services that might help them or their colleagues.
The saying is true; you need to look after yourself in order to look after others. The group agree it’s often much easier to support and advise others than look after yourself!
With this in mind, here are some tips from our Mental Health First Aiders on self-care:
- Practice mindfulness – Do it in a way that suits you, even if it’s just 5 minutes on the way home from work.
- Get outside – Something regular is even better, like walking the dog.
- Connect – It’s important to connect and share with others, like a regular coffee date with friends.
- Get moving – Look for something that suits you, maybe a yoga class or a exercise video at home.
- Checking in on yourself – The Stress Container is a good tool to think about where your stress levels are and what you might do to change that stress.
Reflecting on these tips, remember to always be mindful of other people’s pressures – show kindness to each other and reach out when you need to!
Sarah Ireland – Head of Learning and People Development
April 2025