Cornmarket, in partnership with the INMO, have today announced the launch of the Let’s Talk About It campaign, a mental health and wellbeing initiative created to bring awareness and education around mental health supports to all INMO members. This 12-month campaign was created on the back of a comprehensive research project that looked at the wellbeing of nurses and midwives.
The research identified key themes affecting overall wellbeing including: workplace and organisational stressors, COVID-19 stressors, physical health impacts, mental health impacts and knowledge of available services.
Key findings from the research include:
· As a result of the Mental Health Impact from COVID, 91% of respondents stated they had experienced mental exhaustion while off duty, and 61% of respondents had considered leaving their healthcare profession*.
· 98% of respondents want mental health support that is tailored to nurses and midwives**.
· Nearly half of respondents don’t know where to access free mental health support for nurses and midwives**.
Based on these findings, Cornmarket and the INMO aimed to create an educational awareness campaign that would provide INMO members with access to practical advice and support. An online digital hub has been created with access to informational programmes, podcasts, webinars and events, helpful articles and video content and research. The supports will also include bespoke content to help INMO members identify the signs of fatigue and burnout, tips for managing mental and emotional stress, therapy tools and content on the impact of night shifts.
Campaign Ambassador Bríd O’Meara is a Mental Health and Wellbeing Consultant, a registered psychiatric and general trained nurse with over three decades of experience working in Mental Health in Ireland. Commenting on the Let’s Talk About It campaign, Bríd said: “This initiative is so important in today’s climate, not least given the events of the past year. The aim is to create awareness amongst INMO members of the indicators of compromised wellbeing and provide access to tailored practical advice and information on supports available. As a psychiatric and general nurse, I am thrilled to be involved with this initiative as it’s so close to my heart. I know this campaign will bring more awareness to mental health and provide supports to our incredible healthcare professionals.”
The Let’s Talk About It initiative will not only drive awareness and education but will also partner with trusted mental health experts and wellbeing programmes to deliver beneficial supports. The collective includes Zevo Health bespoke resources, Aware Life Skills CBT programmes, 50808 Text About It, Employer EAPs, INMO 24hour Counselling Phone Line and more.
Speaking about the Let’s Talk About It campaign, Karen McGowan, INMO President, said: “Our members are healthcare professionals working in incredibly difficult circumstances. 91% of our members stated they had experienced mental exhaustion when they were off duty, while 61% thought about leaving the profession*. This campaign will encourage our members to utilise the services available to them, while starting a conversation around the serious need for mental health and wellbeing support for frontline workers. We’re excited about every aspect of this campaign, including a podcast series with former nurse, Norah Casey, who will help build trust and education through normalisation and shared experience. This will be one of many elements of the campaign and one that will hopefully resonate well with our members.”
Commenting on the Let’s Talk About It campaign, Clodagh Ruddy, Head of Client Services, Cornmarket, said: “In our role as the administrator for the INMO Salary Protection Scheme for many years, we at Cornmarket have a unique understanding of the conditions which cause claims. With this in mind, an initiative around mental health and wellbeing was built into the Scheme during its last review. We’re delighted to partner with the INMO to provide awareness, education and support services for nurses and midwives and to encourage them to partake in this initiative in any way they can.”
The full research can be found HERE.