Staff stress levels and burnout rising
A leading funder has has launched a partnership with the Scottish Association for Mental Health to deliver training.
Foundation Scotland, Scotland’s community foundation, has awarded the charity an initial £20,000 to deliver 40 training sessions specifically designed for those working or volunteering in the third sector.
Funded in partnership with the National Emergencies Trust, the award recognises mental health as a key priority need through the pandemic with recent reports finding that two thirds of charities have experienced an increase in staff stress levels through the pandemic and 44% of organisations cited staff burnout as a significant threat to their operations.
The funding will allow SAMH to deliver tailored workplace sessions. Individuals will get to choose from a range of virtual sessions including A Manager’s Guide to Mental Health in the Workplace, Introduction To Suicide Prevention, Maintaining Wellbeing and Building Resilience. These courses aim to develop participants’ knowledge, skills and confidence to protect themselves and provide support to colleagues.
Fiona Benton, assistant director of delivery and development at SAMH, said: “As a charity, SAMH knows first-hand how hard third sector staff and volunteers have been working since the start of the pandemic: finding new ways to support people who need help, often while dealing with their own personal stress and worries.
"We’re grateful to Foundation Scotland for recognising the need to protect the mental health and wellbeing of people working in charities.”
Helen Wray, Programmes Manager at Foundation Scotland said: “We have been continually impressed by the hundreds of passionate and dedicated third-sector heroes delivering incredible support through this dreadful time.
“Yet we recognise it is often these very people who feel like they can’t talk, or even have time to think about their own issues as they are so focussed on helping others.
“This is very concerning, supporting others just isn’t sustainable long-term unless you are looking after yourself and others within your organisation.”
