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Five Ways to Wellbeing

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Five Ways to Wellbeing

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Elyane Bardou, Co-ordinator for the South Yorkshire Frontline Network, gives a fantastic insight into how frontline workers can support and maintain their wellbeing during C-19:


After the lockdown started, many frontline staff communicated the need for support around maintaining their wellbeing, home working and supporting people remotely.

The ‘five ways to wellbeing’ are recognised principles helping individuals manage their wellbeing. There has been an effort to find solutions to put these principles into practice within the exceptional circumstances that we are experiencing at the moment.

The South Yorkshire Frontline Network organised an online networking event around the implementation of the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ during the Covid-19 pandemic. The aim was to provide resources and encourage practice sharing to support our own wellbeing as a frontline staff, and the wellbeing of people being supported remotely.

Colin Ellis from the Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Public Health department started with a presentation about the ‘five ways’, followed by advice on how to implement these principles during the lockdown.

The Q&A and discussion time following the presentation provided a great opportunity for attendees to ask questions, share their experiences and provide advice and resources.

Below is a selection of self-help online resources that frontline staff are finding to be useful:

  • Sheffield Flourish’s online toolkit to manage your mental health provides a personalised platform with a really nice interface based on the ‘5 ways to wellbeing’. It can be used by staff or people accessing services (even outside of Sheffield) as a helpful resource to take care of our own mental health.

  • The ABL lockdown survival guide contains some really useful resources based on the ‘5 ways’.

  • Resources for people experiencing mental health issues were also shared. Elefriends is a supportive online community for people experiencing mental health issues.

  • The Healthy London partnership has put together a collection of resources on a range of topics, including self-harm reduction strategy, support during a mental health crisis, and substance dependence during Covid-19.

  • The NHS provides several mental health helplines covering a range of mental health issues.

  • The Be the One website provides advice on suicide prevention.

  • If you are working from home, this video gives helpful tips about working in a healthy and efficient way, for people who are new to remote working.
  • Mind also has wellness action plans that line managers and employees can develop. These can be done together or independently to support ourselves.

Practical solutions to support the wellbeing of people remotely have been implemented by some of the organisations represented during the meeting.

The use of creativity has been noted, including sending newsletters with quizzes and advice on how to keep active, providing people with wellbeing packs containing ‘distraction items’ and providing tablets equipped with internet access to retain support and connection whilst in isolated situations.

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