Mental health resources and tools for non-Fraser Health staff.
COVID-19 Mental Health Resources
Canadian Mental Health Association’s Online Hub
The Canadian Mental Health Association’s Online Hub has expanded online resources to include information to improve psychological and social supports and provide strategies to help frontline workers take care of their mental health and well-being.
Care for Caregivers
A support site with a variety of resources for people working in health care. During these difficult times, your mental health is a priority. Whether you’re looking for up to date credible information to ease your mind, a free workshop to learn about resiliency, or quick daily coping tips, it’s here. This site provides a diverse collection of quick and easy resources to support your mental health.
Managing Anxiety around COVID-19
This guide highlights six tips to support you during this challenging time:
- Maintain routine
- Limit your media intake
- Keep connected
- Get some fresh air
- Take advantage of downtime
- Keep perspective
Resources from Dr. Marietta Van Den Berg
In the two videos and handout below, Dr. Marietta Van Den Berg (Psychiatrist and Physician Quality Lead for Surrey Hospitals), addresses common experiences and concerns frontline staff and leaders are coping with.
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Managing stress and anxiety, Dr. Van Den Berg offers ways to recognize stress within your body and gives some simple suggestions on how to manage underlying feelings of anxiety caused by COVID 19.
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Coping with uncertainty, Dr. Van Den Berg offers easy strategies to recognize your fears for what they are – thoughts – and helps you identify those things that are within your control as a helpful way to plan for, and be in uncertain times.
- ABC123 - Psychological first aid tool (pdf file), Dr. Van Den Berg's handout provides techniques to help reduce symptoms of acute anxiety and other emotional distress.
General Mental Health Resources
Going Home Checklist
How do you switch off from the workday’s events? This Going Home Checklist (pdf file) highlights simple steps to support you in deliberately transitioning from the demands of work to going home to rest and recharge.
Before you go home, take a moment to think about the following today:
- Acknowledge one thing that was difficult on your shift.
- Consider three things that went well today.
- Be proud of the care you gave today.
- Check in with your colleagues before you leave – how are they doing?
- I will switch my attention to home – to rest and recharge.
Fraser Health’s Psychological Health and Safety E-Learning Modules
This course introduces you to psychological safety: what it is, why it’s important and how to create psychologically safe spaces. You will also learn about the importance of establishing a personal resilience practice, and walk through some resilience-boosting resources.
Mental Health Continuum Guide
This mental health continuum guide (pdf file) can help you determine whether your mental health might be at risk and provides quick tips and tools for how you can help yourself depending on where you land on the continuum.
4-minute Relaxation Exercise
Increase your personal resilience by following a short guided exercise that uses your breathing to calm and focus yourself during stressful times (Video exercise takes 4 minutes).
In-person and Peer Supports
Mobile Response Team (MRT)
In addition to supporting workers on the front lines of the overdose public health emergency, the MRT will also support the mental well-being and psychological safety of frontline health care workers, specifically home care and long-term care workers, who are experiencing exponential distress and mental health concerns in response to COVID-19. (Provincial Health Services Authority). Available now, 24/7. For more information, call 1-888-686-3022 or email: MRT@phsa.ca
Virtual peer support service
A phone and text-based peer support service, staffed by former long-term care and home support workers, to provide confidential emotional support to current workers, and referrals to other services and supports.
Peer-to-peer psychological first aid
Peer-to-peer psychological first aid provides simple guidance if you need to provide an in-the-moment response to colleagues or staff member who needs support. Refer to the peer-to-peer psychological first aid tool (pdf file) to learn more about the three Fs: Facts, Feelings and Future.