- Conference
- 2024 National Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 20 November 2023
- Decision
- Carried
Research conducted in 2022 by King’s College London in collaboration with the NIHR ARC (National Institute for Health Research, Applied Research Collaboration), North Thames at University College London and NHS Trusts across England, showed that healthcare workers experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at twice the rate it appears in the general public.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only made maintaining good mental health in the NHS workforce worse. For many healthcare staff, the experience of working through the covid-19 pandemic was one which has created lasting trauma, which itself has led in many cases to them seeking support from their trade union regarding related issues.
For stewards and representatives who may be supporting members going through poor mental health and/or crisis, the impact can be substantial. Often stewards do not feel confident in how best to approach such situations, how to handle communication and representation to support members appropriately, and/or where and when to best signpost for support. In the worst cases, the pressure of supporting members in crisis or trauma can lead to stewards developing their own stress and mental health issues.
Conference believes that it is crucial that UNISON has strategies in place to support our stewards in all such circumstances, and doing so will also lead to our members being better supported.
It’s also vital that UNISON is a strong voice calling for the adequate funding and availability of mental health and wellbeing support services for NHS staff, provided at a level determined on no other basis than need. Many Covid recovery services supporting staff have seen funding cuts over the last period, despite demand remaining high.
Conference calls on the Health Service Group Executive to:
1)Encourage regions to provide training and guidance on signposting to help stewards support members who may be facing challenges with poor mental health and/or who may be suicidal.
2) Encourage regions to provide health and wellbeing courses accessible to UNISON representatives.
3) Campaign for access to timely, effective health and wellbeing support at work, and for the continued funding of resilience and wellbeing services established and/or developed to support health workers in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4) Make use of the national Organising Space to provide a list of national support groups/resources which Representatives can provide to members who are in need of mental health support.