Coronavirus Support and Resources

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Coronavirus Support and Resources

 

Looking after your own mental health

Managing Your Mental Health During Corona Virus

The media has been full of updates about the Coronavirus - from daily bulletins on the TV to minute-by-minute stories in social media feeds - it is hard to avoid. But what if you are living with a mental illness that could be exacerbated by this non-stop rolling news? In this blog article Peer from the Rethink Digital team looks at the simple steps you can take to look after your wellbeing.

Mind Covid-19 resources

Coronavirus (Covid-19) is affecting all our lives. Things are changing fast, and many are worrying about what it all means for ourselves and our loved ones. Those of us already living with mental health problems are facing extra challenges too.
This Covid-19 specific page on the MIND website contains useful tips to help you cope during this time.

Public Health Information

Public Health England’s ‘Every Mind Matters’ website contains resources to support mental health and wellbeing. Click the country for specific public health information for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The National Autistic Society

A lack of routine can cause extreme anxiety for people with autism. The National Autistic Society has useful resources to support autistic people of all ages. The NAS resources include social stories to help explain the changes in the current climate. 

Thriving with Nature Guide

This guide from the Mental Health Foundation aims to open conversations about mental health while recognising the important role that nature plays in supporting positive mental wellbeing.

Working from home: a wellness action plan

This wellness action plan (WAP) is a user-friendly pdf from Mind, specifically developed for people working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The WAP is designed to help you manage your mental wellbeing whilst working from home. This is a useful tool for you to explore what impacts on your mental health and what support and resources you can access to improve your wellbeing.

 

How organisations can support their staff during the pandemic

A new era of authentic leadership

This article published on the Capgemini website refers to the changes which are developing in leadership models as managers adapt to leading teams in the virtual environment. Authenticity and emotional intelligence are amongst the key attributes which will influence success in virtual leadership. There is a useful 3 phase approach to help leaders capitalise on lessons learned during the crisis and adapt their leadership style to face the challenges ahead.

ACAS advice for Employers

The ACAS website includes youtube videos with discussion around the need for employers to prioritise the health and wellbeing of their workforce as they face increasing challenges arising from the pandemic. The focus is on ensuring that the mental wellbeing of employees is supported so that organisations can respond resiliently and flexibly to the changing economy.

Advice for employers and employees to support mental health whilst working remotely

The Center for Workplace Mental Health provides practical suggestions to maintain health and wellness and tips for managers and human resources professionals to support their workforce during this period of remote working.

Emotional intelligence to have upper hand in post-COVID-19 recruitment

This article in HR Magazine reports on Professor Cary Cooper’s presentation at the CIPD Festival of Work where he stressed the importance of emotionally intelligent leaders. As we face the challenges of a post-coronavirus culture, Professor Cooper, spoke about the need for hiring managers to promote and recruit workers for their emotional intelligence and not just technical ability in order to build strong wellbeing structures within organisations. He said, “the more we have people with EQ (emotional quotient), the more we can identify when people are feeling low and can listen and bring teams together.”

LEADING IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS - a resource portal for managing and leading your team through the Coronavirus crisis

The Chartered Management Institute website contains tools, resources, templates and top tips for Managers and a practical guide which can be downloaded to help Managers navigate the current crisis. There are a variety of blog posts and articles to help Managers lead their teams more effectively which cover flexibility, crisis management, mental health and wellbeing, the new employment landscape and the new good governance.

Loneliness is not just a personal issue

An article on our own website which includes suggested actions for organisations to consider regarding loneliness in the workplace, together with a collection of external resource links for individuals and employers.

Working from home

This page on the Acas website includes information for employers and employees regarding their responsibilities in relation to working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It covers everything from looking after mental and physical health to practical arrangements regarding equipment, technology and expenses. There is a link on the webpage to the CIPD questionnaire entitled 'preparing for home working' which employers can adapt for their own survey purposes.

World Health Organisation Poster

This poster can be printed and shared and contains key messages about stress management during the pandemic.

 

Returning to the workplace

ACAS Flexible Working Guidance - Hybrid Working

Guidance to facilitate employers to consider whether hybrid working is an option within their organisation and, if so, offering practical tips on how it could be fairly introduced.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Mental health and returning to the workplace

This CIPD guide provides advice for employers, people professionals and people managers on how employee mental health can be supported as lockdown ends and there is a phased return to the workplace. Consideration is given to the impact of COVID-19 on mental health; actions employers should take; mental health and the law; proactive steps to prevent mental ill-health; early intervention; ongoing support and how managers can reflect on their management style. There are also PowerPoint slides which can be downloaded to assist in delivering a briefing session for people managers on mental health and wellbeing.

Returning to the workplace after the COVID-19 lockdown

This comprehensive toolkit produced by the Society of Occupational Medicine, in collaboration with Mind, Acas, CIPD and others, focuses on the areas employers will have to consider to ensure a smooth transition back to work for their employees. This pdf guide covers a wide range of subjects from managing the risk of the virus spreading, to bereavement, discrimination and concerns which may not have been raised previously in the workplace but have arisen as a result of the pandemic.

 

Additional Resources Pages

Training Courses


Please Note: The information on this website is for general guidance and is not legal advice. Please be aware that some of the articles mentioned on the resources pages originate from countries with different legal requirements from those in the UK.

Equilibrium Associates Limited (In Equilibrium) will not accept liability for any loss, damage or inconvenience arising as a consequence of any use of or the inability to use any information on this website. We are not responsible for claims brought by third parties arising from your use of in-equilibrium.co.uk

 

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