You Gov carried out a survey on the impact of the pandemic on Key Workers in October 2020 and reported that 49% feel stressed, 47% feel anxious and 37% are having sleeping problems. Front line workers such as those in retail, care homes, schools and public transport have been dramatically affected by COVID-19 and have experienced high levels of stress, anxiety and possible trauma. In response, Dorset Mind has developed a Key Worker Mental Health Support Programme. The generous award will help us to provide mental health training and counselling to support approximately 100 key workers over the next twelve months. The project will help people who have worked in challenging situations to support everyone else. We will provide training webinars covering topics such as ‘Managing Stress, Anxiety and Burnout’ and’ Grief, Loss and Big Change.’ For any delegates who attend the sessions but require an individual intervention to support them with specific mental health concerns we will provide 6 to 8 one-to-one counselling sessions. With the support of the Ecclesiastical Movement for Good awards, we hope to improve the mental wellbeing and lives of the people within our communities who have worked continuously to serve us.
