Organisations are growing increasingly concerned about the mental health of their staff and service users, a new report has shown
Charities are growing increasingly concerned about the mental health of their staff and service users, a new report has shown.
Research complied by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) shows the main pressures charities have faced in recent months as a result of the Covid-19.
The report analyses various studies that have been undertaken between June and August, including national surveys carried out by the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) and Third Sector Interfaces (TSI) Scotland Network.
It has found that although many of the issues that organisations faced at the beginning of the crisis remain, emerging themes such as workforce issues; furlough and staff morale. Issues pertaining to ‘return to work’, mental health and wellbeing, both of staff and service users, also came across strongly.
The report states that organisations are worried about the mental and wellbeing impact of the crisis.
It said: “It has become apparent, from national surveys and the sub-sector intelligence included here, that as the pandemic has progressed people’s mental health and wellbeing have deteriorated. In ACOSVO’s Leadership reports, looking at the breakdown of the mentioned parent themes, the top issues were mental health and staff morale.
“This is also the case when we look at evidence from Inspiring Scotland. Their reports suggest that several charities are concerned about the mental health and wellbeing, both of staff and service users.”
The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, published by the ONS, warned of an impending mental health crisis. It found one in five UK adults are reporting symptoms of depression, double the pre-pandemic levels.
Other main themes of the report include the continued financial threat that hangs over organisations. One in five charities report a critical threat to their finances in the next year, and 60% of UK organisations will not be able to afford to bring back all of their furloughed staff if he scheme is withdrawn before social distancing ends. This is against a background of rising need for services - a quarter of Scottish charities reported a significant increase in demand for their services.
And although informal volunteering increased during lockdown, third of charities have seen a decrease in the number of volunteers with which they engaged.
The full report can be viewed on the SCVO website.
