Unit 2: Mental Health and Wellbeing Assignment Sample

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Introduction: Supporting Mental Health in NHS Nursing

Mental health and well-being is considered as an integral part of the overall health and well-being of an individual. In the case of emergency services, like Nursing, Police service, or Fire Brigade, the mental health and well-being of the emergency service workers are considered to be critical issues that need to be addressed. According to some recent studies by MIND, in the UK, more than 85% of emergency service workers have experienced poor mental health and stress at their workplace (HSE, 2017). The psychological and social scenario in an emergency service setup can be severe in the short term, but it can affect the mental health and well-being of emergency responders on a long-term basis. In this assessment, the focus will be given to critically analysing the service provision and mental health and well-being of a nurse (Kim) who works for NHS in the intensive care unit. The purpose of this assessment is to critically reflect on analysing the mental health and wellbeing approaches that can be applied to chosen case scenarios and reflect on how a nurse can develop positive mental health to increase the effectiveness of her service facilities. In this respect, it can be stated that mental health is an important component of overall patient care, though it often goes unaddressed or unrecognized as a nurse tries to predominantly focus on the health and well-being of the patient. In this assessment, a critical analysis of the factors that influence mental health and well-being will be carried out in reference to the case scenario of Kim, a nurse of NHS along with an evaluation of the importance of early intervention to support the mental health and wellbeing of emergency responders.

Section 1: Factors that influence mental health and well-being

a. Link between physical and mental health

The mental and physical health of any individual is linked fundamentally. According to Public Health England (2016), there are multiple associations between mental health and physical condition, which can impact significantly on the overall quality of livelihood of any individual, demand on healthcare services, public funding services, and generate outcomes the society. As per WHO or the World Health Organisation, health can be defined as the complete mental, social, and physical well-being and not merely the absence of any infirmity or diseases. According to WHO “there is no health without mental health.”( WHO, 2022). Therefore, the association or link between the physical and mental health are as follows:

1. People with severe mental health conditions are prone to several chronic physical disorders.
2. People with chronic physical diseases or conditions are vulnerable to the risk of poor mental health (Public Health England (2016).
3. Poor mental health is one of the important risk factors for chronic physical diseases or conditions.

Considering the case scenario of Kim, who is a nurse of NHs and worked at Nightingale Hospital London during the COVID-19 pandemic, a close interconnection between physical and mental health and wellbeing can be observed. The relentless demand to offer critical care, witnessing the sufferings of people who are infected severely by the COVID-19 virus, and delivering the heartbreaking news to the family members of the patient have had a significant impact on the mental and physical exhaustion of Kim. The toll on the mental well-being of Kim can be highlighted by her emotional breakdown and burden through her action to deliver distressful messages about dying women to her 85-year-old husband. On the other hand, the demeaning nature of her work not only strains her physically but also hurts her psychological stability illustrating the link between physical and mental health and wellbeing in emergency service provision.

b. Characteristics of positive mental health and impact on the effectiveness of emergency response

Positive mental health can be defined by the combination of feeling good and functioning well. It is not just the mere absence of mental illness, but it refers to the experience of positive emotion, having a positive relationship, feeling of engaged with life, and having a sense of meaning in livelihood (Parkin, 2021). The characteristics traits if positive mental health are:

1. Experiences positive emotions like joy, pride, happiness, and satisfaction
2. Feeling to be engaged with life
3. Having a sense of purpose and meaning in life, feeling worthy in life
4. A sense of accomplishment and contribution to the society for betterment
5. Having positive relationships with family, community, and surroundings
6. Being optimized- positive feeling for present and future life

In emergency service facilities, service workers often face critical and intense incidents that cause a psychological burden for them. According to a study Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018), it was found that public safety personnel like emergency service workers with or without mental health diagnosis showcase lower intolerance to uncertainty and anxiety sensitivity than those who are diagnosed with mental stress. In Nursing or healthcare service provision. Positive mental health can help a nurse to be well-equipped to deal with the demanding and stressful nature of critical care service provision, like delivering health care services to patients with COVID-19 infection at the critical care unit. A nurse, with positive mental health can exhibit more resilience, and develop clear thinking and decision-making in any critical and stressful scenario (Jiménez-Herrera et al., 2020). This in turn can help them to offer improved care to the patient in a more attentive and empathetic way. additionally, positive mental health among nurses can foster collaboration, communication, and job satisfaction which contribute to a more effective and inclusive emergency service environmental t healthcare setup.

c. Social and psychological factors for positive mental health

Social and psychological factors play an important role in maintaining positive mental health, according to the Mental Health Foundation (HSE, 2017), positive mental health can be determined by the combination of psychological, social, and biological factors. Social factors like family, friends, colleagues, work, housing, and money can have a significant impact on mental health. On the other hand, positive social interactions like quality education, safe family, and community cohesion, and inclusive workplace setup can act as proactive factors to promote good mental health (Korpela and Nordquist, 2024). Considering the case scenario of Kim, a nurse of NHS and worker at Nightengale Hospital London during the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be seen that there are several social and psychological factors that play important roles in promoting positive mental health.

Unit 2: Mental Health and Wellbeing Assignment Sample

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1. Early childhood experiences: early childhood experiences of Kim can promote the development of coping mechanisms and resilience to face emotionally vulnerable or challenging situations in professional livelihood (Korpela and Nordquist, 2024). Positive experiences in childhood can contribute to the development of better emotional regulation, whereas adverse experiences in childhood can make a nurse more vulnerable to stress
2. Impact of friends, Family, and colleagues: in the workplace setup, positive support from the team can help Kim develop a sense of camaraderie and shared responsibilities with which she can cope with the emotional burden while providing services at the critical care unit at NHs or Nightengale Hospital London. On the other hand, family and friends can provide emotional support to Kim in terms of empathy which can serve as a buffer against emotional breakdown while delivering difficult news to the family member of a patient (Meissner, 2015).

d. PERMA model of well-being

The PERMA Model of well-being was first proposed by Dr. Martin Seligman in 1988 (2012), where he selected five components that contribute to the well-being of people. PERMA model of well-being can also be defined as a framework of well-being and happiness based on true positive psychology. The five elements of this model are:

(Figure: PERMA MODEL of Wellbeing)

(Source: Kun et al., 2017)

1. Positive emotion- it is the prime indicator of flourishing. Positive emotions include interest, hope, compassion, pride, amusement, and gratitude.
2. Engagement – according to Seligman (2012) engagement refers to the sense of “being one with the music”. It refers to the sense of being taking part in activities, practicing the living in the moment, and spending time with others (Madeson, 2017).
3. Relationships- it encompasses the positive interaction of individuals with family, friends, colleagues, and community. According to the PERMA model of well-being, a relationship refers to the feeling of being supported, lovers, and valued by others
4. Meaning – it refers to having the idea about the purpose in life which can help an individual to stay focused on what is important for them while facing challenges or adversity (Kun et al., 2017).
5. Accomplishment – According to the PERMA model of Well-being, Accomplishment refers to achievement, competence, and mastery.

Considering the core concept of the PERMA model of well-being it can be stated that this model or framework of happiness and well-being can help Kim to find out the moments of joy in her work- she can acknowledge the small victories which in turn put a positive impact on the services being offered by Kim at critical care unit at NHS. On the other hand, in relation to the PERMA model, Kim can create a holistic approach to developing happiness and well-being by addressing relational, emotional, and existential aspects of livelihood. This model can promote early intervention like mindfulness practice, regular assessment of mental health and well-being, and taking part in team-building activities can contribute to the well-being, inclusivity, and resilience of Kim and help her develop coping mechanisms (Kun et al., 2017). This model can also help Kim to set realistic professional goals with which she can celebrate her small achievements, and boost motivation and self-esteem while dealing with patients in the critical care unit.

Section 2: Value of Early Intervention

a. Early warning signs of stress and the way public service can provide support

An early warning sign of stress can vary from one person to another, but some common physical signs and symptoms include:

1. Headache
2. Stomach upset
3. Fatigue
4. Muscle tension
5. Difficulty with sleeping

The common psychological signs of stress for individuals are:

1. Discouragement
2. Irritability
3. Pessimism
4. Anxiety
5. Depression
6. Cognitive difficulties such as the reduced ability to concentrate on or make a decision

Considering the case scenario of Kim, it can be seen that as a nurse working at Nightengale Hospital London's Critical Care Unit at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, the early warning signs of stress for her will be:

1. Emotional Exhaustion: the feeling of being mentally and physically exhausted and the feeling that she is at the breaking point can be considered as a sign of her stress at the workplace setup (Cabrieto et al., 2019)
2. Decreased job satisfaction: lack of enthusiasm for the services she provided. A diminished sense of accomplishment and repeated exposure to distressful situations at the intensive care unit have impacted the overall job satisfaction of Kim.
3. Increased irritability: considering the case scenario of Kim, it can be realised that Kim is becoming annoyed with delivering distressful information or news of patients, suffering from COVID-19 infection to their family members (Kinman et al., 2020). It also lowers her ability to make quick decisions and commit to the service delivery process.

The NHS and the UK government offer a wide range of mental health support services to nurses. According to current articles by NHS England (NHS England (2021), the organistaion in collaboration with the government has invested more than £15 million to design a mental health and wellbeing program for strengthening the mental health support of nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, and therapists. In this program, the healthcare workers and nurses will rapidly be assessed and treated by mental healthcare specialists and experts based on their psychological status at the workplace. Those who are at high risk used to be referred to the specialist center of excellence (NHS, 2020b). Kim, as per her mental health status can access confidential counseling services through NHS Staff Support And Counselling Services, which provides psychological support to reduce the stress and anxiety levels among nurses specifically those who serve in the critical care unit (NHS, 2020). Additionally, NHS has implemented a well-being program, workshop, and training session, which can provide stress management training and resilience-building knowledge to Kim for coping with the stress and emotional toll while providing services at the intensive care unit in NHS and Nightingale Hospital London. Additionally, the EAPs or Employee Assistance Programs can provide confidential advice, support, and counseling services to Kim for navigating her personal and professional challenges (Parkin, 2020).

e. How emergency responders could benefit from early intervention

Emergency responders are often exposed to challenging and traumatic events which can have a significant impact on their mental health and wellbeing. Early intervention can help them to mitigate and manage the mental distress, anxiety, or depression that accompanies frontline working scenarios and help people to stay mentally resilient as the first emergency responders (Parkin, 2021). One such early intervention to promote positive mental health and well-being among emergency responders is ASAP or Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol which is an EMDR-based intervention that can be used as a tool for screening and assessing the mental health status of frontline workers (Public Health England (2016). Acute Stress Adaptive Protocol provides guidelines to train the Peer Support Officers so that they can provide immediate help and support to the responders in the urgent aftermath of critical incidents. This protocol can also be administered one-on-one to peers who have a high chance of repeated exposure to traumatic and critical situations in a healthcare setup. Another early intervention is the Crisis Intervention Model which comprises six steps:

1. Defining the problem.
2. Ensuring the safety of the client.
3. Provide support.
4. Examine the alternative support.
5. Make a plan.
6. Obtain commitment.

This early intervention includes the process of being connected with the emergency responders like Kim who used to face critical and traumatic events frequently at the workplace and talk to them by following six steps to ensure their immediate treatment and mental health and well-being (Zhang and Liu, 2019). As a whole, with early intervention, emergency responders like Kim can benefit in many ways:

Early intervention can help the care providers and respective personnel to identify and address the stressors of emergency responders before they escalate into severe mental health issues. With early intervention, clear communication with experts can help emergency responders develop the ability to cope with chronic conditions like anxiety, depression, and burnout (Cabrieto et al., 2019).

Section 3: Strategies to promote mental health and resilience

a. Appraise of a local strategy that emergency responders can use to cope with stress; a national strategy that emergency service can use to build resilience among the employees

Responding to a critical or emergency scenario is both challenging and rewarding work. The common sources of stress and anxiety among emergency responders include witnessing human suffering, intense workload, life-and-death decisions, and transferring distressed information about a patient to his family members (Kinman et al., 2020). Therefore, prevention of stress and management both are critical for emergency responders to stay healthy and remain positive mentally.

Local strategies like NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing Hubs can be avail or used by Kim to cope with the onset of stress at NHS and Nightingale Hospital, London. This NHS Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing is an initiative by NHs to provide confidential and free-of-charge support and care services to all health and social care workers. Here Kim can get clinical assessment services and referrals to local mental healthcare service providers as per her mental status and needs (Public Health England , 2016). This includes talking and counseling therapy, where Kim can share her experiences regarding her distressful mindset while providing services at the intensive care unit or providing information about any distressed individual to her family members.

On the other hand, the NHS Staff Support Line and NHS Practitioner Health Service are two mental healthcare strategies that are commissioned nationally to support the healthcare staff (Glasper, 2019). The aim of the NHS Practitioner Health Service Strategy is to improve the clinical health and mental well-being of the nurses and support them to gain positive mental health and return to their work safely. By availing of this service, Kim can get scope to reduce her stigma related to her service providing distressed information about patients to his family and tackling emergency and traumatic situations at the healthcare setup. On the other hand, NHS Staff Support Line serves as a national strategy to build resilience among healthcare workers (Maben and Bridges, 2020). By offering helpline facilities, this strategy offers confidential and accessible mental health and care support at a broader scale. Considering the case scenario of Kim, it can be stated that she can avail of this service strategy to receive professional guidelines, resources, and expert advice to deal with the challenges and traumatic situations that she faces at NHS. This strategy promotes the culture of prioritizing mental health and wellbeing among the NHS staff and nurses fostering resilience by providing assistance on time and empowering staff by helping them to develop a sense of solidarity (NHS England, 2021).

b. The Way the mental health of emergency responders will be supervised

The mental health and well-being of nurses at NHS play an important role in delivering holistic, high-quality care and support to people of all ages. According to the mental health nurse’s handbook, the way mental health of a nurse as an emergency responder will be supervised at the healthcare setup as follows:

1. Listen to the person.
2. Gather all the facts and corroborate the information.
3. Regular mental health checkups- implement routine mental health check-ins at NHS for emergency responders like Kim to address and monitor their mental health and wellbeing.
4. Provide counseling and therapeutic services- it should be important for the hierarchy of NHS and other health care organisations to ensure that the nurses in the emergency care unit can have easy access to confidential counseling programs, where they can avail professional support as per their mental status (Kinman et al., 2020).
5. Training on mental awareness- A mental health and awareness campaign will be organized where the nurses in NHS will be equipped to develop coping mechanisms and respond to the early signs of stress like anxiety, depression, and mental breakdown at the service setup (McEntire, 2021).
6. Peer support program- the coworkers in NHS will be encouraged to communicate with each other so that every individual can address and determine others’ mental health status and refer to counseling or treatment (Glasper, 2019).
7. EAPs or Employee Assistance Programs- Implement and Promote EAPs which offer confidential counselling and support services to nurses, who seek support to get rid of breakdown while providing healthcare services in critical units or deal with traumatic situations at workplace setup (Maben and Bridges, 2020).

c. Impact of policies to promote the mental health of emergency responders broadly

In 2022, the Government of the UK has set up a Mental Health Policy “10 years cross-government Mental Health and Wellbeing Plan “ and Major Conditions Strategy (2023) to ensure the mental health conditions of the staff at the workplace setup. In 2017, the government of the UK reformed the Mental Health Act, of 1983 (Parkin, 2021). These policies can provide a framework for mental health assessment and the overall psychological well-being of the staff at the workplace. As per these policies, every nurse will access an inclusive and supportive environment, where their mental health will be addressed systematically (Parkin, 2020). The reformed Mental Health Act 2017 ensures legal support in alignment with the contemporary understandings which offer nurses enhanced legal protection and resources to develop coping mechanisms and maintain positive mental health and well-being in emergency service situations.

Conclusion

To conclude this assessment, it can be said that mental health and well-being play a pivotal role, in any emergency service provision. Specifically, when it comes to providing healthcare and support to a patient, a nurse must have to maintain positive mental health. In this assessment, the case scenario of Kim has been taken into consideration, who is an NHS nurse and was working at the intensive care unit of Nightengale Hospital London at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. During her service provision, she has to deal with many traumatic and critical situations, like delivering distressful news about a wife to her 85-year-old husband and treating patients with severe illness due to COVID-19 infection. Continuous exposure of excessive stress or workload, and traumatic situations, Kim has started feeling of breakdown. In this assessment, considering this case scenario, an depth analysis has been carried out on how a nurse as an emergency responder will maintain positive mental health and well-being. As per this assessment development of coping mechanisms, regular mental health assessments, and access to the confidential counseling service at NHS can help Kim or any emergency responders to maintain positive mental health and well-being throughout their service provision.

References

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