The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been hearing about emotional wellbeing support for UK-wide frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided by North Yorkshire-based Just ‘B’, from one of our clergy.
Their Royal Highnesses spoke with frontline workers and members of the Just ‘B’ team about the mental health impact of the COVID-19 crisis for those working on the frontline, and why it is vital that they are able to reach out for support at such a critical time.
Just ‘B’ is part of North Yorkshire Hospice Care, a registered charity with a family of services operating as Herriot Hospice Homecare, Just ‘B’, Saint Michael’s Hospice and Talking Spaces.
Just ‘B’ provides emotional wellbeing and bereavement support, both locally and nationally, as part of the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ emotional wellbeing, bereavement and trauma support line.
The Revd Tony Collins, Area Dean of the Ripon Deanery, a volunteer for the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ helpline and Chief Executive of North Yorkshire Hospice Care, urged frontline workers to access the helpline.
When speaking to the Duke and Duchess, Tony said: “I think there’s something about reticence to call at the moment, and also around calling when they feel they have space to start processing and reflecting on the experiences they’ve been through.
“The phrases and the words we hear time and time again are 'exhaustion,' 'relentless,' 'there's so much death, when is it going to finish.
“We know that anxiety is high among frontline workers as they continue to work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is why the helpline is so important in providing a safe space for frontline workers to reflect and process what they have been through, talking to someone else without the fear that they’ll be burdening loved ones.
“People often think: ‘I’ve got my friends, family and colleagues, you’ve just got to knuckle down and get on with it’.
“Frontline staff are used to putting others first, forgetting that they also need to look after themselves.
“We feel that part of ‘getting on with it’ is making these calls to services like ours and processing in a safe space, listening to the way you are reflecting on your experiences.”
During the call, NHS staff and emergency responders spoke about their personal experiences with mental health, and how services such as Just ‘B’ have allowed them to cope better and begin to come to terms with their grief.
Providing financial support through its COVID-19 Response Fund, The Royal Foundation has partnered with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to help fund the Hospice UK Just ‘B’ helpline, in order to provide vital resources when they are needed most to NHS staff, social carers and all emergency services personnel.