Five charities have worked together to provide new support to those working on the frontline against the coronavirus.
Samaritans, Mind, Shout, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation have launched Our Frontline, a combination of support and online resources for NHS workers, carers, emergency services and key workers.
Frontline staff and key workers can call or text a trained volunteer and access specially developed online resources, toolkits and advice to support their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Ruth Sutherland, chief executive of Samaritans, said: “As a former NHS nurse myself, I am so proud that we are able to work with some of the UK’s leading organisations to support our key workers and their mental health. Our trained volunteers are a listening ear for anyone, especially those who are putting their mental health under immense short and long-term pressure to provide our frontline against coronavirus.”
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge is formally supporting Our Frontline.
Victoria Hornby, chief executive of Mental Health Innovations, which runs Shout, said: "Millions of people across the UK are pulling together to form Our Frontline and we've joined together as charities to support the mental health of all of these essential workers.
“By combining our services, we can provide a single place for our frontline to go for support if they are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or struggling to manage their mental health for another reason, such as the loss of a colleague or loved one. Shout Crisis Volunteers are incredibly proud to be able to listen to and talk to key workers through a confidential text conversation, whenever and wherever they need our support."
