Emotional and psychological wellbeing
We are emotionally and spiritually well when we are able to manage and adapt to day to day life, and bounce back from the challenges that we experience.
This page contains a range of support for helping increase resilience, emotional balance and psychological wellbeing.
Employee Assistance Programme
Provided by an independent, leading provider of professional employee support services - 'Care First'.
The service is confidential and free of charge. It offers help with a wide range of work, family and personal issues, including legal, practical and emotional.
It is accessible by telephone or online, and also offers individual counselling sessions.
You don't need to ask your manager, just call and you can speak to a professional counsellor or information specialist in confidence, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.
Tel: 0800 174319
Care first login page
Username: ouh
Password: employee
Staff Support Service
Our Staff Support Service is run by a group of experienced Psychologists and Psychiatrists from our Psychological Medicine Centre.
It provides:
We do not accept urgent referrals; if you are concerned about your safety or that of others, please contact the NHS 111 service.
Mental Health First Aiders
A Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) is someone trained to act as a point of contact and reassurance for a person experiencing a mental health issue or emotional distress. Their role is to listen non-judgementally, reassure and respond in a crisis. MHFAs can also provide signposting to professional help and other sources of support.
To find out more about the MHFAs within the Trust search 'Mental Health First Aiders' on the Trust intranet.
Mindfulness
Six-week Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) courses are run by the Head of Wellbeing twice-yearly.
Mindfulness (MBCT) has been proven to have positive impacts on:
- stress, anxiety and low mood
- attention and focus
- cognitive flexibility
- working memory
- concentration
- listening skills
- productivity.
To find out more please visit the Wellbeing page on the OUH staff intranet.
Safeguarding / domestic abuse
We support our staff as much as possible and this includes situations inside and outside work. For some, home and family is not always a safe place to be. In the UK, one in four women and one in six men will experience domestic violence during their lives, and there are reports that this number is rising.
If this is you, or you know of a colleague who is facing difficulties at home, please visit our Domestic Abuse intranet page or contact our Designated Safeguarding Officers:
Email: designatedsafeguardingofficer@ouh.nhs.uk
Chloe Allington-Dyckes
Tel: 07392 199842
Stephanie Poultney
Tel: 07584 000943
Chaplaincy
Chaplaincy - Social Wellbeing
Bereavement Service
The Bereavement Service is here to offer practical and emotional support to the immediate family or next of kin of anyone who dies as a patient of the Trust.
Bereavement Service
Freedom to Speak Up (FtSU) Guardians
Freedom to Speak Up (FtSU) Guardians - Social wellbeing
Main menu
Guide to health and wellbeing - In this guide
Last reviewed:07 January 2025