Care Workers Charity launches mental health grants and counselling for care workers

The Care Workers Charity (CWC) is to launch mental health grants and counselling to ensure care workers receive the right type of guidance and support to help them through what has been a 'very dark period'.

With almost two million care workers in the UK caring for some of the most vulnerable people during the pandemic, the charity is appealing for donations to help those struggling with their mental health.

CWC is currently running trials to offer therapy or counselling sessions from licensed professionals tailored to the needs of the individual.

'Toll on the mental health of care workers has been great, long before the pandemic'

Karolina Gerlich, executive director at The Care Workers Charity, said: “The coronavirus pandemic has shown the resilience and determination of care and support workers as they have continued to care for the most vulnerable members of our society.

“The toll on the mental health of care and support workers has been great, long before the pandemic. However, COVID-19 has exacerbated the mental wellbeing of individuals who may have struggled with their mental health previously and people who have never previously struggled with anxiety or depression are now finding their mental health is suffering.”

In a survey conducted during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic by the Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI), 80 per cent of respondents reported very negative experiences of working between March through to May 2020 and 56 per cent of respondents felt worse or much worse in terms of their physical and mental wellbeing.

Other contributing factors to their negative feelings were not being valued, poor terms and conditions of employment, feeling blamed for the deaths of the people they had cared for and a lack of clear guidance.

Ms Gerlich added: “We are now appealing for support and donations to this fund to help us ensure care workers receive the right type of guidance and support to help them through what has been a very dark period for most.”

The Care Workers Charity supports current, former and retired care and support workers with financial support.

It also provides crisis grants to people who have worked in a paid role in the UK’s care sector and are involved in or support the provision of care. This includes people who have been involved in residential social care, home care, supported living care or day care.

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