Health and Wellbeing News

Monday Feb 22, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘How Care first can support you’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1717818006550670604

Tuesday Feb 23, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘Updates to Care first Lifestyle’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/697368961391088656

Wednesday Feb 24, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘How making small changes to your diet & exercise can have a positive
impact on your wellbeing’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7599414666266521103

Thursday Feb 25, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘How the pandemic could affect the way organisations do business’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6834400863964372749

Friday Feb 26, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘Keeping optimistic during the Pandemic’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4682327854410123790

The coronavirus pandemic has had a profound impact on all our lives, forcing us to stay inside and reduce our contact with friends and family. And while some people will see future lockdown easing as a welcome relief, many may be feeling anxious about how to stay safe. How, then, has lockdown, and the prospect of it ending in future, affected the mental health of older people? Has it brought existing issues to the fore, or provoked entirely new ones?

There has not been an experience like the current coronavirus outbreak in most of our lifetimes and not since the Second World War have there been such restrictions on public movements.

So, it is not surprising that we are all feeling a bit scared. This is perfectly understandable, but it is still really important to look after your mental health if you are over 55 and living alone.

Things you can do to keep safe at this difficult time:

Be prepared

• Keep useful contact numbers in an obvious place e.g. GP, family, friends and plumber.
• It’s important to get in touch with your GP if you have any concerns about your health. With many routine health appointments being cancelled you may feel it’s not appropriate to contact your GP. This is not the case. GPs are still there to support your physical and mental health.
• Think about who can help you over this period. This may be friends and family but also Care first, or local and national organisations. The Samaritans are available 24/7 for free on 116 123 (UK), or Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602 (UK) which is free to call 8am – 7pm every day.
• Remember that it may take longer for your pharmacist to deliver supplies and the same for grocery deliveries, so try and plan ahead.

Stay in touch

• Phone, landline, mobile, smartphone, computer, internet are potential sources of support and ways to get information about what’s available.
• Think about writing a note to neighbours asking if they can help or if they can recommend someone or a service who can. If you have a neighbour’s phone number do give them a call, you might not need anything now, but you may in the future.
• A lot of neighbourhoods are setting up local support groups, ask people if they know about this and how you can join.

Find out what you are entitled to:

• You may be entitled to an emergency food parcel
• If you are considered as being in an “at risk” category, you should have received a letter from the NHS which gives you more information about how the Government can support you to stay at home during this time. Please contact your GP if you feel you should have got this letter and nothing has arrived.

Little things to help if you are spending a great deal or all of your time by yourself:

• A routine is helpful for giving your day a sense of order and make you feel in control.
• Listen to music that you like and lets you remember different parts of your life.
  Watch more films on TV or listen to the radio.
• You may want to limit your intake of daily news about the virus as too much coverage can be scary and make you stressed.
• Tidying something or doing outstanding chores can feel like a major achievement.
• Keep movement in your day through some light exercise if you can.
  Stay in touch with other people. This might be planning times over a week when you will call friends and family.

Be careful to stay safe

• This crisis brings the best and worst out in people.
• People may not always be who they claim in person or online.
• Always check for identification.
• If something feels wrong don’t engage with it. Don’t let someone into your home who has no identification.
• Don’t reply to an email that’s asking you for personal information about you or your finances.
• Don’t give out your bank details to anyone in person or online.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published by The Mental Health Foundation and Age UK. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below –

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/mental-health-advice-older-people-during-coronavirus-outbreak
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/discover/2020/07/mental-health-lockdown/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Mental Health advice for Older People’ this is being delivered live on Friday 19th February at 1pm, please use the following link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8879429819309868044

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

As continued lockdown and restrictions have people spending more time at home and increasing their screen time, eye health experts are becoming increasingly concerned about an indirect consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic: computer vision syndrome.

Spending less time in front of your computer seems like the simplest solution for digital eye strain, but if you’re working from home, that might not be a viable option for you. If you have no choice but to spend eight hours in front of the computer every day, there are some actions you can take to give your eyes a break and reduce the screen’s negative
impact.

Maintain Good Posture

You may not realize your posture and eyes are connected, but maintaining the proper sitting position while you work is actually the first line of defence against eye strain.
When you sit down at your computer, make sure your feet are flat on the floor and your wrists are slightly elevated, rather than resting on your keyboard. Your screen should be positioned just below your natural line of sight

Change Your Lighting

Even if your screen is backlit, the proper room lighting matters. If it’s too bright or too dim, it can lead to increased eye strain and headaches. Your screen should be bright enough so you don’t have to squint, but not too bright that it looks like the screen is illuminated. It’s also important to reduce glare.

Increase Your Font Size

If you notice yourself squinting to try to read the text on your computer screen, increase your font size. This can reduce some of the stress on your eyes and prevent unnecessary strain. If it’s within your budget, you can also opt for a bigger monitor, which naturally increases the size of whatever you’re working on.

Blink More

Blinking is typically considered an involuntary action. But when you’re in front of the computer screen all day, you should make a conscious effort to blink more. A lapse in blinking can lead to dryness, irritation, reduced vision, discomfort, and a loss of concentration, which can ultimately result in reduced efficiency.

Take Frequent Breaks

You also need to give yourself frequent breaks. Most experts recommend going by what’s called the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes, divert your focus to something that’s 20 feet away for 20 seconds. If you can, step away from the computer and get a glass of water or go outside for a few minutes.

Block Blue Light

Blue light is everywhere, even in sunlight, but computer and phone screens contain significant concentrated amounts that are difficult for your eyes to filter out. Prolonged exposure to blue light can lead to eyestrain, headaches, and can negatively affect your sleep. Wearing blue light glasses when looking at screens or utilizing built-in blue light filters, which are now standard on most computers and smartphones. If you wear prescription glasses, you can also opt to include blue light blocking technology
right into your lenses.

Make Sure Your Prescription Is Correct

If you wear glasses, make sure your prescription is up to date. Wearing the incorrect prescription can cause eye strain on its own. When combined with excessive computer use, it can exacerbate the issue. You also need to make sure the glasses you’re wearing are right for the job. For example, if your glasses are meant for distance vision, they might not provide the clarity you need to view your computer screen. You might need more than one pair of glasses for different tasks, or you may benefit from upgrading your current lenses
to ones that are specifically designed for working on the computer.

Create Technology-Free Zones

If you spend the entire day working on the computer, getting in bed and scrolling through social media until you fall asleep won’t do your eyes any favours. Once you’re done for the day, truly unplug. Read a book or spend some quality time with family members without your phone.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published on the link below. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the link below –

https://www.verywellhealth.com/digital-eye-strain-work-from-home-5077257

You can join our live webinar titled ‘Tips to Avoid Eye Strain Whilst Working from Home’ on Thursday 18th February 2021 at 12pm. Please use the following link to register your attendance: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3192618241473346061

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Being kind to both yourself and others can have a positive effect on not only your mental
health but also on other people’s mental health as well. This article will explain some ways to help you show more kindness during times like these and beyond.

From watching the news both UK and worldwide, we have seen kindness emerging in all sorts of ways and from many unlikely sources. It has often been seen as a simple act of appreciation for example; the applause and support we give to the NHS front line workers and all those involved in supporting our essential services. It makes us feel good to be part of a global interaction and during this challenging and different time. It also adds to a wider sense of community, a sense of belonging and above all, it represents an act of appreciation and kindness.

Studies have shown that practicing kindness can boost serotonin and dopamine levels in your brain, which are known as the “feel good, happy hormones”. Whilst the opposite, cortisol – the “stress hormone” can lead to unhappiness, anger and resentment.

During this time at home, maybe think of what you can do to be “kind” to people both inside the home and out. It really is such a simple thing, but can make a world of difference not just to the person (or people), but you as an individual and will be of huge benefit to your own mental health. It could be as simple as contacting people with whom you haven’t been in touch with for a while – our excuse is usually “I’ve been so busy, or I haven’t had time”. You could organise an event via Skype or Zoom for friends and family such as a quiz night. Just about anything that demonstrates kindness.

If you think of the ‘Five Ways to Wellbeing’ and what they are, try to come up with an idea that represents and is relevant to the act of kindness and do it!

Give – This could be giving time to your family in whatever way you can. Or perhaps a donation to charity such as a food bank.

Connect – With friends and family. Perhaps think of ways of contacting those in the community who live alone.

Take notice – Maybe when speaking with others, try and notice any changes to their usual demeanour. Can you tell if they are struggling with their mental wellbeing? If so, what could you do?

Be Active – We are all aware of the current situation regarding the “stay home” government guidelines, but we are allowed to take daily exercise – so try to do that with those within your household.

Keep learning – Now is the time, we have the time even if we are working at home there is still more time without the daily commute for example. Consider your mental wellbeing and how learning helps to stimulate that? Try things with your family and friends and be kind when helping others with their learning. We all learn in different ways, so be creative with that.

And finally, be kind to yourself. Remember to look after your own mental wellbeing. Do something within the home that you enjoy and something that makes you feel good!
The world may be changing and for many this is a scary time, for others this time is an opportunity to consider what next/can I continue as I did before the pandemic? Whatever the longer term outcome, we can at least be kind.

More information

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Ways to show kindness during the pandemic’ this is being delivered live on Wednesday 17th February at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1639702103262906636

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support.

Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious, tired and fed up. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered.

Whether you are a key worker who has worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, or you have been working remotely, it is vital that colleagues stay in touch and support each other through these uncertain times. Before COVID19 came along colleagues would stay in touch whether that be chatting in the workplace, team meetings, having a tea or lunch break together. However as these normal social interactions have been restricted, it is important that we find new ways to support each other. This article looks at some ways in which you can support your colleagues.

Tips to support your colleagues

• Look after your own wellbeing – In order to support others it is very important to look after your own wellbeing first. Keep a balance between helping others and maintaining your own wellbeing. If you are not looking after your own wellbeing it can be difficult to support others.
• Maintain your work life balance – It may be easier to work longer hours if you are currently working from home or are working extra hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is important that you maintain a good work life balance and encourage your colleagues to do the same. Whether it is taking a short walk on your lunch break or putting a reminder in your phone so that you finish on time.
• Encourage your colleagues to use the support available to them – Whatever support you have available to you through your organisation, try to tell your colleagues about it so they also know. It is also key to use this support if you need to.
• Check in with your colleagues regularly – Try to check in with your colleagues to see how they are doing. You may have to find different ways of doing this than in pre COVID-19 times. You could call them or have a virtual catch up via video call.
• Virtual quiz night – Instead of your usual work social events you may have done previously, you could have a virtual quiz night that all of the team could join.
• Group team meetings – You may not be able to hold your regular team meetings like before but you could set up a team meeting virtually at the same time every week.
• Plan what you may like to do when it is safe to do so – You could make plans with your colleagues for things to do together once lockdown and social restrictions are lifted. Once it is safe then you may be able to have a team meal or social gathering once the pandemic is over. You could start planning and thinking about this to give your colleagues something to look forward to.

How can Care first help?

If you feel you may need some emotional or practical support, you can contact Care first on the Freephone number. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. Whilst our BACP accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to provide support with emotional issues, our expertly trained Information Specialists are available 8am-8pm Monday-Friday to provide advice on any practical issues that may be causing you a stress or worry and help you feel more in control of a situation.

All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘How colleagues can support each other whilst working from home’ This is being delivered live on Tuesday 16th February at 12pm, please use the below link to register for this session – https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/61077184171919117

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

As the COVID-19 situation is progressing and the Government guidance continues to change, individuals may be feeling anxious. Mental Health support during times like these are paramount, which is why Care first have worked tirelessly to ensure our services remain available 24/7 throughout the pandemic to provide emotional and practical support and ensure we have every aspect of your overall wellbeing covered. Where clinically appropriate Care first are continuing to offer structured counselling through phone and virtual software. At Care first the health and safety of both you the employee and our counselling team are absolutely paramount, any changes to our structured counselling process will be made in line with government guidance.

Counselling support

Our team of professionally trained, qualified and BACP Accredited Counsellors are available 24/7 to offer support for personal or workplace related issues. As well as the headline issues surrounding mental health, our Care first counsellors are also trained in dealing with both work and home grievances, bullying & harassment issues, domestic violence, relationships at both home and at work and much more. No matter how big or small the problem may be, our counsellors are here for you to provide you with unbiased support away from the situation. Everyone has very individual needs for support, Care first provides short term focused counselling, so the Care first Counsellor will assess your circumstances when you call to establish what the most appropriate form of support will be for you. It might be that you just need a brief conversation with the Counsellor that day, or you may benefit from a few more sessions.

Information Specialists

As control, or the lack of it, can be an influencing factor on the impact of stress. Many individuals identify stress as emotional, however, a lack of control around practical issues can be just as impactful. We have expert advisors that have been trained by Citizens Advice who can provide you with comprehensive answers and assistance on a wide range of practical issues which can affect our daily life, these include but are not limited to; redundancy, advice on funerals and probate, legal information, housing and tenancy issues, childcare, eldercare, health, consumer issues, employment, travel and education. Our Information Specialists are also money trained experts and can provide support with a variety of financial queries such as help with budgeting finances and advice with benefits. You can speak with one of our Information Specialists confidentially Monday-Friday between 8am-8pm.

Management Support

If you are a manager, have leadership responsibilities, or look after a team within your organisation, it is as important as ever that your colleagues are made aware of the range of support available from Care first. As well as supporting you to signpost your colleagues to the Care first service effectively to maintain your managerial boundaries, Care first can also provide you with support within your role as a manager. Care first Counsellors are all management trained and can provide support with issues such as if the organisation is going through a period of redundancy, managing change and difficult conversations, workplace performance, remote working, absence management and disciplinaries.

Care first Lifestyle

Through the Care first lifestyle site you can access a wide range of supportive information, read helpful articles published by our team, view Webinars covering a variety of well-being topics and even speak with a Care first Counsellor in real-time via our online counselling facility. You can log into your account by visiting www.carefirst-lifestyle.co.uk and logging in using your organisation’s unique log in details. If you are unsure what these details are then please contact your line manager or HR department. The Care first Lifestyle website is great place to go to learn more about Care first and the different areas that we can support in.

Care first Zest

With clinically proven intrinsic links between our physical and mental health, Care first Zest provides an interactive health and wellbeing management tool that can help individuals manage and improve all aspects of their mental and physical health. Care first Zest is also an effective means of pro-actively supporting the wellbeing of your team. You can complete the Care first Zest wellbeing assessment which looks at factors including exercise, healthy eating, sleep, smoking, caffeine intake and the amount of water you drink to name a few. The assessment then gives you a score on the different areas and you can see which areas you need to improve on. The idea is that if you can improve the areas you did not score well on then this will have a positive effect on your physical and mental wellbeing.

To find out more about Care first Zest please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2558790467075481100

Care first Woebot

For some people, picking up the telephone to talk with a counsellor is a terrifying experience. Sometimes, when we most need it, we find it the most difficult time to talk with another human. Finding support earlier rather than later is often the best way to manage issues of low mood. Woebot is an AI tool which provides a truly unique way to help identify issues and learn new strategies to cope and reduce the possibilities of those issues escalating into something bigger, without the need to pick up the phone. Woebot works by programmatically learning how to deliver the most impactful content at the most impactful time to optimise positive clinical outcomes for its user.

To find out more about Care first Woebot please view the webinar which can be found via the link below:

https://youtu.be/3oFyFclUEWU

Care First Service – How it supports?

BACP Counselling – Mental Wellbeing

Information Specialists – Practical issues

Management Support – Support for managers within their working role

Care first Lifestyle – Hub of resources and information

Care first Zest – Physical and Emotional Wellbeing

Care first Woebot – Low mood and Anxiety

How all of these above services link together

As you can see from the above table, all the services that we offer complement each other to ultimately encompass an individual’s overall mental and physical wellbeing, which enables individuals to access professional and clinically proven support.

Our counselling support is available 24/7 to help individuals with any emotional issues that they may have. Our Information Specialists can help individuals with practical information and advice. This practical support is so important because if an individual is concerned about a practical issue, then this can cause detrimental effects to their emotional wellbeing. By getting some support from an Information Specialist this will provide the individual with some clarity on that particular issue, which may help them to feel more in control of a situation and relieve some anxiety.

The Care first Lifestyle site can help individuals who are concerned about an issue. The individual may not know where to start and they can have a look at the resources on our Lifestyle website which may be enough to help them. The Lifestyle website is a great starting place to learn about the types of issues that Care first can support with. The individual can also access our online counselling tool through the Lifestyle website which is an alternative way to access support from a counsellor. By an individual looking through all the resources on our Lifestyle website this can help them to get answers about an issue they may be having. Again by getting some clarity on their issue this may have a positive effect on their mental wellbeing.

The Care first Zest platform is great for improving physical as well as emotional wellbeing. So if an individual takes the wellbeing assessment and then works on the areas that may need some focus. This can then improve their overall wellbeing. Many studies show a link between physical and mental wellbeing, so giving individuals access to this platform enables them to make positive changes.

The Care first AI tool Woebot is a great way for individuals to get support around low mood and anxiety. If Woebot does not detect a positive clinical outcome then Woebot will suggest that the individual speaks to a Care first counsellor if they would like to. Not every individual will feel confident enough to pick up the phone and speak to a counsellor so it is an alternative option for individuals to access support.

If you would like to learn more about ‘How Care first can support you’ then please join our webinar on Monday 25th January at 12pm using the details below –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1054645369079231247

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place. If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

Monday Feb 15th 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm ‘How Care first can support you’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1054645369079231247

Tuesday FEBRUARY 16, 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘How Colleagues can support each other whilst Working from Home’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/61077184171919117

Wednesday Feb 17th 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘Ways to show Kindness during the pandemic’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1639702103262906636

Thursday Feb 18th 2021 at 12pm-12.30pm
‘Tips to avoid eye strain whilst Working from Home’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3192618241473346061

Friday Feb 19th 2021 at 1pm-1.30pm
‘Mental Health advice for Older People’
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8879429819309868044

What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse is generally defined as incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening and violent behaviour between individuals that have been in an intimate relationship, that includes family members. Stereotypically women are considered to be the most common victims of domestic abuse, however known cases of men and children being victims of domestic abuse have risen significantly in recent years.

What are the different forms of domestic abuse?

Psychological abuse

Includes name-calling, threats and manipulation, blaming you for the abuse or ‘gas-lighting’ you. Psychological or emotional abuse can range from belittling comments and put downs to accusations. This kind of abuse can lead the victim to believe they’re imagining things.

Economic abuse

Controlling your access to money or resources. An abuser might take your wages, stop you
working, or put you in debt. If someone is controlling or misusing your money in a way that limits your freedom, they are financially abusing you. Economic abuse is broader than financial abuse. An economic abuser might be limiting your access to basic resources like food, shelter, clothing or transport, creating instability and threatening your safety.

Sexual abuse

Doesn’t have to be physical. An abuser might manipulate or coerce you into doing things you don’t want to do. Sexual abuse can happen in or outside of relationships, including within marriage. Your abuser may be pressuring you to have sex or to engage in sexual acts, hurting you during sex, pressuring you to have unprotected sex and more.

Coercive control

When an abuser uses a pattern of behaviour over time to exert power and control. It is a
criminal offence. Reaching out for support in abusive relationships at Home.

Physical abuse

Not only hitting. An abuser might restrain you or throw objects. The abuser might pinch or
shove you and claim it’s a ‘joke’. If an abuser is hitting, punching, kicking, pushing, using a weapon against you or causing you any kind of physical harm, minor or extreme, you’re being physically abused.

Tech abuse

The abuser might send abusive texts, demand access to your devices, track you with spyware, or share images of you online. If your accounts are being monitored, intimate videos or photos have been shared online or someone is using software that monitors what you’re doing or where you’re going, you’re being digitally abused.

Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that discredits your memory, perception and
sanity. An abuser might use lies, denial, contradiction, false information and manipulation to exert control.

If you are aware of someone whose partner exhibits the behaviours below the person
could be a victim of domestic abuse:

• Partner is jealous and possessive
• They are nice one minute and then abusive in the next
• Tells the individual what to wear, where they can go and who they can see
• Constantly puts them down
• Puts pressure onto the individual to have sex when they don’t want to
• Plays mind games and makes them doubt their judgement
• Isolates the individual from friends and family
• Controls the money
• Tracks their movement and messages
• The individual feels as if they have to walk on eggshells, so they don’t upset partner
• Partner uses anger and intimidation to frighten the individual

Victims of domestic abuse can often experience domestic abuse for several years before
finding the strength to seek help and support to get away from the abusive partner. The
impact of domestic abuse on an individual can last for several years.

It is also important not to forget the impact on children who live in a household where there is domestic abuse, a child witnessing domestic is child abuse. A child’s mental and physical wellbeing, and their behaviour can suffer through witnessing domestic abuse with the impact possibly lasting into their adulthood.

We all have a role in trying to identify when someone is being abused and if possible support or encourage them to seek the appropriate help to leave an abusive relationship.

If you are experiencing abuse or believe you are in an abusive relationship, talking to someone can be the first step to leaving an abusive relationship. Care first have counsellors and advisers who can listen, support, or sign post you to where you can get assistance. You could also talk to a trusted, family member, friend or colleague. If you wish to contact the Care first telephone counselling and information line then please don’t hesitate to call the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

There are other national agencies that provide support:

If it is safe to do so, call a telephone helpline for support, either with mental health
generally or with difficult relationships in particular:

Freephone 24/7 National Domestic Violence Helpline, run by Refuge: 0808 2000 247
The Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327
The Mix, free information and support for under 25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428
Rights of Women advice lines, there are a range of services available

Sources of information:

https://www.cps.gov.uk/domestic-abuse
https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/
https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Reaching out for support in abusive relationships at Home’ this is being delivered live on Friday 12th February at 12pm, join us on the day or register now by clicking on the link below to ensure your place:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1814376017839274507

Please be assured that registrant information is held confidentially and your organisation
is not notified of your attendance/non-attendance to these webinars.

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.

To support Time to Talk day on the 4^th February the following sessions are being offered for all managers team leaders and supervisors.

February 4th (13.00-16.00) and February  12th (10.00-16.00)

The aim of the workshop is to enable and encourage managers to develop a management style that strikes the right balance between the needs of the individual/team and the needs of the business.

Content will include:

• Signs that might indicate that a staff member is struggling
• Impact of the Covid-19 pandemic – issues to be aware of
• 2 golden rules for managing stress and mental health at work
• Practical problems for managers
• Good practice framework for managing mental health at work
• Clarifying the role of the organisation, individual staff and the manager
• Guidelines for managing sensitive conversations about stress and mental health
• Practical support – ‘reasonable adjustments’ during and after the Covid-19 pandemic
• Sources of support for staff and managers

To arrange to attend a session please book via staff connect

COVID-19 will go down in history as one of the worst pandemics in recent times. Many of us are aware of the risks and symptoms if we were to contract COVID-19 and after 14 days or so, if we are lucky enough, we will be back to our usual selves.

However, something unusual has come out of this pandemic, something that many are calling ‘Long COVID’. But what is it exactly? What are the symptoms and how common is it? There is a lot of uncertainty around Long COVID at the moment but below is a summary what we know so far.

What is long COVID?

Long COVID has been reported by people who are suffering longer term effects from the
COVID-19 virus. Different people have reported different symptoms, but the most common of all is fatigue. Some other symptoms reported are breathlessness, continuous cough, headaches, problems with vision, loss of smell or taste and also mental health problems including depression, anxiety and head fog.

Long COVID has since been acknowledged as real, whereas before it was put down to longer recovery times.

Is it common?

It is not that common, only 12% of people in a survey who had contracted COVID-19 reported at least one longer lasting symptom after one month. The most common symptoms of people reporting long COVID are:
– Fatigue
– Shortness of breath
– Joint pain
– Chest pain
– Cough
– Loss of smell

Does long COVID come from severe COVID-19 symptoms?

It would seem not. It was previously thought that only those who experienced severe symptoms when they first contracted COVID-19 were the ones who experienced longer lasting effects.

However, even if you have mild symptoms from COVID-19 it is still possible to suffer with long COVID symptoms.

What is causing long COVID?

There are lots of theories as to how long COVID is caused, but there is currently no definitive answer. It is likely that although most of the virus has been cleared from the body there can be pockets of virus left over in various places which can cause long COVID.

Another theory is that COVID-19 causes the immune system to function differently post recovery, which in turn causes various symptoms as a result. It may also alter people’s metabolism as reports of people struggling with their blood sugar levels post COVID-19 and developing diabetes.

There may also be longer lasting damage to the lungs and brain.

However, is it not yet certain what the cause of long COVID is and what the best treatments are.

Are longer lasting symptoms after a virus common?

Yes they are. It has been well documented that people have suffered with longer term affects such as fatigue. However, it does seem that it is more common in more people after COVID-19.

Until more research is done and more statistics are analysed it will be hard to determine just how common longer lasting symptoms are.

Will people fully recover?

Given that COVID-19 is still relatively new there is a lack of long term data to refer to. But it is reported that the number of people with longer term symptoms seems to be lessening over time.

Long term surveys are being carried out where those who have suffered with long COVID will be monitored regularly over the next 25 years to gather more data and understanding.
What should you do if you think you have long COVID?

The NHS have a COVID-19 recovery plan which you can refer to. You can find it HERE. It encourages use of the “3 Ps” which are;
– Pace yourself
– Plan your days
– Prioritise

The above points are to help conserve energy to speed your recovery and to speak with your GP or hospital team if you’re not recovering as quickly as you’d expect.

Useful sources & Information:

Some of the information sourced for this article was originally published on the links below. If you would like to access this and further information in more detail please follow the links below –

https://www.yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk/your-road-to-recovery/managing-daily-activities/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/long-term-effects-of-coronavirus-longcovid/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-54296223

If you feel you may need some support, you can contact Care first. Care first is a leading provider of confidential, professional counselling, information and advice services. All employees are eligible to use Care first, our services include; telephone counselling, information services and online support. Call Care first on the Freephone number provided by your organisation and you can speak to a professional in confidence.

If you would like to view the Webinar on ‘Long COVID – What do we know so far?’ this is being delivered live on Thursday 11th February at 12pm, please use the following link to register for this session –

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4953834658372308748

If you are unable to join the webinar live, a recording of the session can be accessed using the same link above after the webinar has taken place.