Supporting mental wellbeing during the pandemic
The pandemic is changing the way we work and live, as well as making life difficult for the workforce. Things that would ordinarily have been easy to do may have become more challenging.
The railway needs to maintain high levels of safety around its workforce when moving through the different phases of the pandemic. We have created a range of resources to help industry keep the workforce safe and protect mental health and wellbeing.
Employees will be facing challenging situations. This could include public behaviour issues, such as the risk of assault or abuse. People’s routines will change frequently and there will be natural concerns about their own health and wellbeing.
RSSB’s guidance and toolkits offer many ways to help staff manage a range of issues affecting wellbeing, from fatigue to passenger conflict. Please do take advantage of our resources, which includes: Mental wellbeing resource hub MIND has put together information that can support people who may be feeling anxious about Coronavirus, practising social distancing, and self-isolation. Listen to RSSB’s work psychologist Joana Faustino’s podcast ( https:// bit.ly/2BdWK05) on how rail staff can take care of their mental wellbeing during the pandemic.
In collaboration with the industry
Mental Wellbeing Subgroup, RSSB has published a briefing note ( https://tinyurl.
com/y8weae99) on how employers can support the mental wellbeing of staff during the pandemic, with example messages for staff as well as interventions ranging from social considerations and strengthening communities to specialist support. Supporting staff following the death of a colleague The loss of a colleague can have a profound impact on any organisation. To create the conditions for people to grieve as they need to, it’s important that companies respond appropriately. Read our guidance to help the workforce cope ( https://tinyurl.com/y9npzv9d). Line manager’s resource for promoting mental wellbeing Line managers are responsible for and can influence team culture, workloads, control, support, roles, relationships and change, all of which can have an impact on employees’ mental wellbeing.
Read and download our Line Manager’s Resource ( https:// bit.ly/2B67qOt), which helps improve a manager’s understanding of how mental wellbeing can be improved and maintained, for them and their teams. Mental Health and Wellbeing training We have partnered with MIND to create two cost-effective and expert-led elearning courses. The courses ( Mental Health Awareness
at Work and Managing Mental Health at Work) are rail-specific and can help upskill the workforce on mental wellbeing remotely ( https://tinyurl.com/y74gafhr). Trauma Management Toolbox We have published an updated Trauma Management Toolbox ( https:// bit.ly/ 3frB3Zl) with practical tools, checklists, templates and resources. This will support companies to review and make changes to their trauma pathway, consistent with RSSB’s trauma guidance.
Everyone will respond to a traumatic experience differently. For some, returning to work shortly after an incident may feel right, for others more time and targeted support may be needed. With access to the right treatment and support, the majority will recover and be able to return to work.
PTSD can affect memory, concentration, sleep and social interactions, all of which could affect someone in the workplace. But PTSD is a treatable condition and there are steps companies can take to ensure cases can be detected and staff supported.
For more information on the above tools and resources, please visit rssb.co.uk/mentalwellbeing. Joana Faustino, RSSB work psychologist, adds: “The rail industry relies on the workforce to deliver highquality, efficient and safe services.
“All of that is dependent on the health and wellbeing of our workers. Motivation, concentration and problem-solving skills can all be negatively affected by health problems that go unsupported.
“We all struggle sometimes, but the way in which companies react to workers’ health problems has a massive impact in their ability to manage.
“To ensure we keep the country moving, we need to develop our understanding of health risks for rail workers, improve working conditions and effectively support our workforce when they are struggling.”
RSSB’s Chartered Clinical Psychologist Dr MICHELLE O’SULLIVAN outlines a range of resources created by the organisation to help the industry keep the workforce safe during COVID-19 and protect mental health