Coronavirus – Staff Wellbeing Support

The College is working hard to support our staff during this difficult and unsettling time.

You will be spending a lot more time at home over the coming months but there are lots of things you can do to make sure you feel well in your mind and body.

Please take a look at the tips, resources, ideas and information we have put together to inspire and support you.

Maintaining positive mental health

The coronavirus pandemic means we’re having to radically adjust to a new normal. It’s a situation we’ve never encountered before, so it’s no wonder that a lot of us are struggling with our mental health as a result.

Below are a few resources which provide helpful tips and advice to support good mental health.

• How to tackle mental health in the workplace as a manager and colleague
• Isle of Wight College EAP Service (24 Hour Counselling)
• Government Guidance on Mental Health and Wellbeing
• NHS Every Mind Matters
• MIND support
• 8 Ways to look after your mental health
• Anxiety: Coping with Stress, Fear, and Uncertainty
• How families can cope with self-isolating together (BBC)
• The family lockdown guide: how to emotionally prepare for coronavirus quarantine
• Barnardo’s – Trauma Aware through Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being

Overcoming Anxiety caused by Coronavirus

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak means that life is changing for all of us for a while. It may cause you to feel anxious, stressed, worried, sad, bored, lonely or frustrated.

It’s important to remember it is OK to feel this way and that everyone reacts differently. Remember, this situation is temporary and, for most of us, these difficult feelings will pass.

If you find you are feeling heightened levels of anxiety please visit www.anxietyuk.org.uk, the site has pooled together lots of helpful resources to assist you in managing those feelings.

New Online Delivery Directory

With limited delivery slots available from the big supermarkets on the Island we wanted to let staff know about the new online service to help you find food and other supplies that can be delivered or picked up.

The service is called “A to Z to me“. You just need to use the plus icon to zoom in to the Isle of Wight on the map and then click on the circle icon when it appears. You will then be able to select you location and view services available for your location.

This is a great way to support local Island business through this difficult time and also access the supplies you need in a safe way.

We also thought it would be good to share a list of companies we know are providing a delivery service and give staff the opportunity to email in to share any others they know of:

• Farmhouse Fayre (Vegetable shop)
• Medina Foods (General groceries)
• Easy Weigh (Spices and specialist food supplies)
• French Franks (Sandwich shop)
• Grace’s Bakery
• Wight and Wessex Wine
• Goddards Brewery
• Island Foods (Butchers)
• Woodfords (Butchers)
• Barrow Boys (Fruit and veg)

Nutrition Tips

There is a growing body of evidence indicating that nutrition may play an important
role in the prevention, development and management of mental health problems including depression and anxiety.

In times of uncertainty, cooking is both a means of grounding yourself – chopping and stirring, using your senses and judgement – and of engaging in normal routines, that remind you that life goes on.

We have put together some information and links to recipes below:

• Foods that boost your immune system
• Essential Vitamins found in food
• Jamie Oliver Store Cupboard Essentials for families
• 10 things to do with tinned tuna
• BBC Food Rice Recipes
• 44 easy soup recipes
• Healthy Smoothie Recipes
• Food for thought: Mental health and nutrition briefing (Mental Health Foundation)

Coronavirus Official Update Sources

An important part of maintaining your wellbeing at this time is not to spend too much time on newspaper articles which may sensationalise and can lead to rising feelings of anxiety.

It is important to keep yourself updated on the latest information but also important to know when to switch off. We have put together a list of official sources of information below:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do (GOV)
• Isle of Wight Council – Guidance and Advice Coronavirus (COVID-19)
• World Health Organisation

Quarantine Life Hacks

Although self-isolation can present it’s problems, there are also positive aspects to having more time on your hands. Doing those things you never have time to or have been putting off.

Getting these things off your plate may give you a sense of achievement of a day and provide a little daily boost. We have put together a list of ideas to get you going below:

• Virtual Coffee Mornings/dinner date/study sessions
• Make Playlists
• Organise photos
• Sort out post
• Review insurances, energy providers, internet, etc
• Spring cleaning
• DIY projects
• Sort out your clothes
• Re-organise your cupboards
• Gardening
• Re-decorating

Keeping the Mind Active (Learning)

You may feel frustrated that you can’t get the same sense of mental stimulation as you get at work therefore we have provided a few tips on how you can keep your mind active and yourself feeling motivated through these times:

• Youtube Tutorials – Learn a new hobby or skill.
• Do a DIY project
• Professional development
• Research
• Industry Updating
• Distance Learning

Hobby Ideas for Non-Working Time

More time at home could be a good opportunity to take up a new hobby or pick up something you used to enjoy before life got too busy. Below is a few ideas to get you inspired:

• Embroidery
• Sewing
• Pickling
• Crocheting
• Knitting
• Making music
• Restoring furniture
• Pottery
• Origami
• Candle making
• Flower pressing
• Baking
• Wine Making
• Chutney/Jam making
• Reading
• Writing
• Scrapbooking

Exercise resources and Ideas

The extensive social distancing policies put in place to limit the spread of COVID-19 mean most people will have to spend much, if not all, their time at home.

While self-isolation measures are necessary, our bodies and minds still need exercise to function well, prevent weight gain and keep the spirits up during these challenging times.

Exercise can help keep our immune system become strong, less susceptible to infections and their most severe consequences, and better able to recover from them.

Starting the day with exercise can also help to structure your day and put you in a more motivated frame of mind.

We have put together a few suggested resources to help you to keep active while at home:

• Yoga for beginners video
• NHS 10 Minute Workouts
• HIIT Home Workout Video for Beginners
• 30 Minute HIIT Cardio Workout (no equipment)
• Quick morning Pilates Routine
• Strength and Flexibility Exercises (British Heart Foundation)

Activities for Kids and Working from Home Resources

Balancing working from home and family commitments can be challenging therefore we have put together some helpful info and tips to support you:

• Coronavirus: How to work from home when you have children
• Activities for families during self-isolation
• Activities for kids during isolation
• The Great Indoors ( The Scouts and Bear Grylls) Survival activities for Kids indoors

Volunteering – Giving Back

Giving back can be a good way to help you feel connected to your community and feel like you have some control in the uncertain times. Below is some info about how you might be able to help:

How To Help Safely

Gov.uk provides guidance on How to help safely.

Looking Out For Each Other

The Looking Out For Each Other campaign is to inform those who are well and not at risk, of the things that they can do to help support their friends and neighbours who need to stay at home because of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Helping Your Community

Start by following guidelines on social distancing, but here some other ways to support those struggling.

NHS Volunteer Responders

There are four roles that you can do which are:

1. Community Response volunteer
2. Patient Transport volunteer
3. NHS Transport volunteer
4. Check in and Chat volunteer

Visit www.goodsamapp.org to apply.

Helplines

• Anxiety UK Charity providing support if you have been diagnosed with an anxiety condition. Phone: 03444 775 774 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 10pm; Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm)
• Bipolar UK A charity helping people living with manic depression or bipolar disorder.
• CALM CALM is the Campaign Against Living Miserably, for men aged 15 to 35. Phone: 0800 58 58 58 (daily, 5pm to midnight)
• Men’s Health Forum 24/7 stress support for men by text, chat and email.
• Mental Health Foundation Provides information and support for anyone with mental health problems or learning disabilities.
• Mind Mind promotes the views and needs of people with mental health problems. Phone: 0300 123 3393 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm)
• OCD Action Support for people with OCD. Includes information on treatment and online resources.
• OCD UK A charity run by people with OCD, for people with OCD. Includes facts, news and treatments. Phone: 0333 212 7890 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
• PAPYRUS Young suicide prevention society. Phone: HOPELINEUK 0800 068 4141 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 10pm, and 2pm to 10pm on weekends and bank holidays)
• Rehab4Addiction Coronavirus: Guidance for Better Mental Health 0800 140 4690
• Rethink Mental Illness Support and advice for people living with mental illness. Phone: 0300 5000 927 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)
• Samaritans Confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone: 116 123 (free 24-hour helpline)
• SANE Emotional support, information and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers. SANEline: 0300 304 7000 (daily, 4.30pm to 10.30pm)
• YoungMinds Information on child and adolescent mental health. Services for parents and professionals. Parents’ helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4pm)