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Mental Health and Wellbeing

A collection of resources to support our members with their mental health and wellbeing. 

On this page you can find online advice and guidance about various issues affecting your mental health and wellbeing. RCN members can also access free counselling.

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Depression

Recognising the signs, depression self assessment test and how to get support.
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Relationships

If you're encountering issues with personal or workplace relationships.
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Domestic abuse

Recognising the signs of domestic abuse and how to get support. 
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Trauma

Advice and resources to help if you're struggling with the effects of trauma. 
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Grief and loss

Examples of loss, recognising the signs of grief and how to get support.
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Stress and anxiety

Advice and resources to help with stress and anxiety. 

Healthy Workplace, Healthy You

Resources on:

  • Managing stress
  • Self care
  • Mindfulness based videos for nursing staff
Nurses smiling on the ward

Five ways to combat compassion fatigue

Emotional resilience coach and former frontline nurse Jayne gives her top tips on understanding and overcoming empathy-sapping exhaustion
A tired nurse

Are you in crisis?

If you feel suicidal or feel like harming yourself or other people:

  • Call 999
  • Go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department (A&E).
  • Call your GP’s out of hours service or set up emergency appointment:

England: During out-of-hours periods you can also call NHS 111.

Scotland: Call NHS 24 on 111.

Wales: NHS Direct Wales 0845 46 47. If you need to speak to your GP out of hours, please telephone your doctor’s surgery and the number will be on the answer phone message.

For non-emergency situations:

  • Speak to your GP
  • Visit NHS Choices
  • The Hub of Hope website offers a postcode search of local mental health services.

Emotional support

If you would like to offload or talk to someone about your problems, then you may find an emotional support line useful - some to try are:

  • Samaritans - offering emotional support 24 hours a day, Freephone tel. 116 123; email: jo@samaritans.org
  • Sane Line - offering specialist mental health emotional support 4.30-10.30pm everyday tel: 0300 304 7000.

Mental health and wellbeing resources for students:

There are a range of support services and charities dedicated to supporting the mental health of students. 

Counselling

Get support with personal or work related issues such as stress, depression or relationship breakdown.

Peer Support Service

A network for members with lived experience of disability and/or neurodiversity.