April is Stress Awareness Month

Workers in health and social care have higher than average rates of work-related stress, depression and anxiety. 

Make Stress Awareness Month the month you make it routine to prevent stress and support mental health at work by completing the 5 steps of HSE's Working Minds campaign: 

1. reach out and have conversations
2. recognise the signs and causes of stress
3. respond to any risks identified by agreeing action points
4. reflect on the actions taken – have things improved?
5. make it routine to check back in on how things are going

 

Preventing work-related stress, depression and anxiety is a legal duty, it can help deliver high quality services and it’s the right thing to do.

By being proactive, you can improve productivity, reduce sickness absence and help retain valued workers.

Project lead at Working Minds partner Lifelines Scotland, Gill Moreton, says: 'In emergency services we can’t always prevent exposure to potentially traumatic events, but we can create a work environment that promotes good mental health. Research tells us that supportive management, supportive teams work as really effective buffers for people in these high-risk roles.' 

Further information and resources

• Register for our full online learning for step-by-step advice, tools and templates
• If you need some help getting conversations started, download HSE's NHS Stress Talking Toolkit which can be used as part of regular supervision
• Watch a short video from Lifelines Scotland that provides specific advice on stress and mental health for individuals working in emergency responder roles

Global Asbestos Awareness Week: 1 to 7 April

It’s Global Asbestos Awareness Week, a great opportunity to check that your asbestos management plan is up to date. If you’re responsible for maintenance and repair of non-domestic buildings, you may have the legal duty to manage asbestos.

To find out more and download free templates, visit: The duty to manage asbestos in buildings