23 July 2020
Nurses in Scotland will now have ‘around the clock’ mental health support, following the launch this week of a national helpline as part of the country’s response to COVID-19.
Britain’s Nursing Times website reports the new service will be available for all health and social care workers in the country and will run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for those who need psychological support, especially in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The telephone initiative is being funded by the Scottish Government. It comes after a National Wellbeing Hub was launched by the Government in May to support staff physical and mental health, via a range of online self-care and wellbeing resources.
Practitioners from NHS 24, Scotland's existing national telehealth provider, will run the new confidential helpline by offering callers a compassionate and empathetic listening service, writes the Nursing Times, based on principles of psychological first aid.
Those taking the calls will also offer advice, sign-posting and onward referral to local services if required.
Similar mental health support initiatives have previously been launched for NHS staff in both England and Wales during the coronavirus pandemic.
Help is available for ANMF (SA Branch) members via Nurse and Midwife Support, a national telephone and online support service for nurses, midwives and students to assist with health issues, including mental health.
The service is anonymous, confidential and free. You can call Nurse and Midwife Support anytime (24/7) about any issue you need support for: 1800 667 877 or contact via the website at
nmsupport.org.au.