If you’re a team leader in the ambulance service, then it’s not just your own mental health you need to think about – your reports might also need support. A great place to start could be encouraging your staff and volunteers to create wellness action plans, which gives you a chance to find out what ‘normal’ looks like for everyone in your team, and spotting the signs they might want some extra help.
Would you know what to do if someone told you they were struggling with their mental health? Being confident in talking about your a colleague’s wellbeing means you’ll know what’s helpful to say if you’re worried about someone at work, and in turn they’ll feel more comfortable having difficult conversations with you.
Good leadership makes a difference to responders’ wellbeing, morale and good mental health.
This page from Lifelines Scotland talks about how good management protects responders, and has advice and resources for leaders, a video and tips on authentic leadership, and links to find out more.
This two-page guide from Nuffield Health explores five key steps to help staff move from emotionally barely surviving back to thriving.
It covers how to step in when there might be a problem, how to listen to an employee’s concerns without judgement, and what reasonable adjustments you might like to consider.
Wellness action plans are an easy, practical way of helping you to support your own mental health at work. If you are a manager, they’re also a useful tool in helping you to support the mental health of your team members
Mind has two free guides: one aimed at line managers and one for individual employees. They each contain a wellness action plan template that you can fill in electronically.
Bupa have put together this guide to support managers to feel confident in talking about mental health and dealing with disclosure.
This accessible and structured guide includes information on the following: confidentiality; where and when to have a conversation; starting a conversation; listening and responding; offering options; next steps.
Blue Light Together will be closing on 31st July 2023.
Find out more about additional sources of mental health support for the Emergency Services