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North East Ambulance Service’s wellbeing support programme, NEAS Mental Maintenance, has been named as a finalist in the Health Service Journal (HSJ) Awards as part of the staff wellbeing category.
NEAS Mental Maintenance launched in March 2023 with the aim to change the way we think about mental health and wellbeing across the organisation, and was led by staff psychological wellbeing advisor, Andy Walton.
Read Andy’s article here as he shares his thoughts on how the mental health conversation is changing in the ambulance service.
Every member of staff is given an employee toolkit, which includes support and guidance, and a personalised toolkit which acts as a reflective journal. There are also manager guides and suicide prevention resources available. The approach to keeping good mental health is also covered at induction for all new starters – encouraging them to look after their mental health from the start, rather than addressing issues that may occur in time.
Since the launch, these materials have also been adapted and rolled out to all ambulance services in England via the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives to promote the benefit of good mental wellbeing of everyone working or volunteering in the ambulance sector.
“It’s clear that we need to look after our colleagues so that they are well and will be better equipped to look after our patients and the project has allowed us to consistently spread the message that colleagues must find and be given more time to process the feelings related to burnout or trauma.
“Helping to create a shift to viewing mental health as something that needs to be maintained rather than only attended to in a crisis. Inspiring a sense of vibrancy around the subject, promoting proactive, practical and positive ways of maintaining wellbeing whilst working in emergency response.”
Andy Walton, Staff Psychological Wellbeing Advisor, NEAS.
When developing NEAS Mental Maintenance and its resources, it was acknowledged that mental health support is not a one size fits all approach, that everyone has their own mental health story, whether it be lived experience of experiences supporting friends and family. A collaborative approach was vital to ensure these messages came through and resources reached and connected with everyone.
This included identifying a need to have a consistent language around mental wellbeing that was vibrant, aspirational, and accessible, in order to inspire greater self-awareness and agency over maintaining and recovering mental wellbeing.
Within the first year, over 70% of staff found the NEAS Mental Maintenance toolkit useful and everyone who needed additional support received what they needed.
The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony, held in London on 21 November.
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