28 Thames swims to support Frontline Mental Health

 

Instagram: @sextherapistlondon

For more information about this social enterprise: https://www.frontline19.com/ 

Life is a challenge for everyone at the moment and we have all felt the impact of Covid-19 on our lives. I undertook this challenge whilst redeployed to support the frontline in a central London hospital. I was working with the Family Communications Team which was set up to support virtual visiting for patients and loved ones who were unable to come to the hospital due to Covid-19 visiting restrictions. My days were spent on ICU and makeshift ICU wards set up to manage the huge influx.

There are so many human stories behind this awful tragedy. What struck me repeatedly was seeing staff pushed beyond their limits and struggling to come back into work day after day. Nurses managing the care of multiple, extremely sick patients and putting their patients needs before their own. The staff are utterly amazing in their dedication to delivering the best care that they could under these circumstances. Many of the nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, speech therapists, porters and cleaners (etc.) have been wrestling with Covid for a year and are going to need time to heal and some will need psychological support to help them process the loss and repeatedly traumatic events. 

With colleagues all over the country needing access to psychological support, I wanted to do my bit to try and raise funds to help them access timely therapy, as we know early intervention can reduce the possibility of long-term mental health problems. It can also enable the transformation of post traumatic stress into post traumatic growth.


Outdoor Temperature
7th February: Snowing   

Temp 2*C