In honor of Mental Health Awareness Week, we at Moonrise wanted to discuss the changing stigma of mental health problems.

The Stigma of Mental Health

Mental health problems are common and affect thousands of people in the UK, unfortunately, not everyone understands mental health problems. Despite it being widespread there is still a strong stigma around mental health which can lead to discrimination in all aspects of life.

This stigma and discrimination can be upsetting and make many people’s problems worse, and it can come from several sources including society, employers, the media and even friends and family. In addition, someone with mental health problems can even experience internalized stigma and come to believe the negative messages or stereotypes of having mental health problems.

Almost nine out of ten people with mental health problems have identified that the stigma and discrimination have had a negative effect on their lives.

Mental health problems are common and people who suffer with them are the least likely of any group with a long-term health condition or disability to find work, be in a steady, long-term relationship, live in acceptable housing or be socially included in mainstream society.

Stigma and discrimination can also make someone’s mental health problems worse and delay or stop them from getting help. Social isolation, poor housing, unemployment, and poverty are all linked to mental ill health. So, stigma and discrimination can trap people in a cycle of illness.

Although over time the stigma surrounding mental health has improved it cannot be denied that it remains. The stigma of mental health problems comes from stereotypes and media representation.

Society continues to have stereotyped views about mental ill health, with some people believing that people with mental health problems are dangerous. The truth actually being that they are at a higher risk of being attacked by others or harming themselves than hurting other people.

Some people think there is an automatic link between mental ill health with violence or portray mental health problems as dangerous, criminal, evil or very disabled and unable to live normal fulfilled lives in society. This idea is reinforced by sensationalised stories in the media, however most common mental health problems have no significant link to any violent behaviour, with the proportion of people living with a mental health problem who commit a violent crime is extremely small.

Due to the lingering stigma in society people with mental health problems still worry about talking about how they are feeling or seeking help because of the fear of the stigma of being seen as different or dangerous. This fear can prevent individuals from getting the care that they need which can lead to more significant problems for the individual.

This stigma is changing, and people are starting to speak more openly about mental health and challenge the negative attitudes and stereotypes, this is thanks in part to the outlook of young people and their willingness to share and also to high profile people such a Lady Gaga coming forward and talking openly about their own mental health problems and positively showing the effect of seeking help and recovery.

The change in the portrayal of mental health problems in the media has added to the decrease in the negative stigma. Truthful and accurate portrayals of a number of problems such as the depiction of Autism in the TV series The Good Doctor has led to a more positive and informed conversation about the problem and how it affects individuals.

It is important that this change in direction continues so that the stigma around mental health is eradicated and allows for those with mental health problems to come forward and seek help in an open and non-discriminatory society.

We all feel anxious from time to time, it is a normal emotion that everybody can experience and is the natural response to the uncertain world around us. Sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem.

What can cause anxiety?

There are lots of things that can lead to feelings of anxiety including exam pressures, relationships, starting or leaving a job or other big life events. We can also get anxious at everyday needs such as money worries, especially with the current cost of living crisis where people are struggling to meet their basic needs such as heating the home or buying food. It is known that more than a third of adults feel anxious about their financial situation.

Is it important that we recognize when we are anxious and develop responses so that it does not become overwhelming.

Although an emotion, anxiety can affect us both physically and mentally. If you feel anxious you may notice your heart rate increases, headaches, loss of appetite, breathlessness or chest pain. Anxiety can make you feel tense or nervous, find it hard to relax, feel tearful or have issues sleeping and concentrating. Other people, such as friends and family may notice that you are more irritable than usual or more withdrawn. Or you may appear fine on the outside but feel panicky inside.

What can we do to manage anxiety?

There are things that we can do to protect our mental health and manage anxiety. What works will be different for each individual. Things that can be helpful for those experiencing anxiety include being active, getting out in nature, practicing breathing techniques, getting support to tackle money issues or eating well. Talking to a friend or spending time with loved ones can often be a good first step.

Taking action in order to address the causes of anxiety is one of the biggest steps to take to overcome anxiety. This could be contacting a money advisor, discussing workplace stress with your employer, or seeking support if you are experiencing bullying, harassment or discrimination.

If anxiety does get to the point that it is severely affecting your everyday life then contacting your GP can help, they can offer additional support and help.

No one should struggle alone with anxiety.

We cannot overcome anxiety on our own. The causes that trigger anxiety are often not in our control and complex with financial worries, social isolation, social pressures and discrimination can all play a part.

Due to this and the increase in individuals feeling anxious it is felt by many that local and national politicians should be looking at measures to help people such as income support, the provision of good quality housing, strong legislation around bullying, harassment and discrimination.

It should also be ensured that communities are equipped with the services and facilities needed to live well and help protect everyone’s mental health.

If you are struggling it is important to seek help, the hardest step is the first one, but it is worth it. There are number of treatments are available including talking therapies, medication and lifestyle changes.

We at Moonrise wanted to raise awareness of this top topic, particularly this week since it is Mental Health Awareness Week, aimed at highlighting mental health and the issues that many people are struggling with. For more information go to: Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 | Mental Health Foundation.

Today is International Nurses Day; nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system and are involved in every aspect of healthcare delivery, promoting health and well-being. At Moonrise this is no different, our nurses offer support in every area of our services and are vital in developing and implementing care plans to ensure the needs of those who require support are met.

Despite the vital role that nurses play, they face many challenges, often working long hours in challenging conditions. International Nurses Day is an opportunity to recognise this contribution and to celebrate the achievements of nurses from around the world as well as advocating for better working conditions and resources.

Nurses in the UK working in the NHS have recently had to go on strike in their right to fairer pay for the work they do. Many of these nurses have not taken the decision to strike easily given the effect that it may have on their patients and shows how much they have patients at heart.

Modern nursing, with its caring heart and tireless work, is rooted in history with its founder Florence Nightingale.

Born in Florence, Italy, Nightingale was educated in England and despite objections from her family she pursued a career in nursing. She is most remembered as the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ for her work in military hospitals during the Crimean War. Nightingale and her team found appalling conditions in these hospitals with them being over-crowded, poorly ventilated and unsanitary which caused many of the wounded soldiers to die from preventable infections. Through their tireless work, Nightingale and her team worked on improving the conditions in the hospital, implementing strict hygiene practices and improving ventilation and sanitation.

The work made such a difference that the mortality rate among wounded soldiers dropped from 42% to 2%. This transformed the field of nursing and established Nightingale as a pioneer in public health. Nightingales’ legacy lives on through and she is celebrated as a hero and a role model for nurses from around the world.

Inspired by her emphasis on compassion, dedication and innovation, nurses today continue to work in the same way to continue Nightingale’s lasting impact on the field of healthcare.

With the work that they do it is only right that we celebrate our nurses for their contribution to healthcare.

See more about International Nurses Day here: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/international-nurses-day/

To all our nurses we give our thanks and wish you all a Happy International Nurses Day!

The world has learned a lot about hand hygiene in the last few years, remember COVID? The pandemic had us all washing our hands while singing Happy Birthday in our heads, or probably sometimes out loud!
In healthcare, hand hygiene is at the forefront of the fight against infection and plays a huge part in infection control. However, there have been studies around the world that have indicated that healthcare providers clean their hands less than half of the time they should, this causes the transmission of infections among healthcare workers and service users.

The concept of handwashing while taking care of patients and service users surfaced in the 19th Century following chemist and pharmacist Antoine Germain Labarraques’ work developing the use of chlorides of calcium and sodium as a disinfectant and deodorizer in a number of settings including hospitals. Labarraque proved that the number of germs present reduced following the use of chlorinated calcium by doctors who were moving from completing autopsies on cadavers to treating patients. From their handwashing before treating patients was born and continues to be as important today.

Healthcare workers can encounter many different germs each day, including bacteria, viruses and fungi which can be transmitted from patient to patient and service user to service user through contact with contaminated surfaces or hands. For vulnerable people this can be detrimental to their health, good hand hygiene can reduce the risk of transmitting these pathogens to others.

Hand washing is the most effective method of practicing good hand hygiene and is carried out before and after every contact with patients or service users, especially if they have been in contact with bodily fluids and after removing gloves.

By practicing good hand hygiene our staff team reduce the spread of infections and protect themselves and our service users.
Working together on this we can make a significant impact on preventing the spread of infections and improving patient outcomes.

We are looking for enthusiastic and caring people to become Community Support workers with Moonrise.

Flexible Hours, Immediate Start (subject to the receipt of DBS and satisfactory references).

Function of the Role

• To provide high quality Care and Support to Service Users in their own homes in accordance with current best practice and according to policy and procedures, agreed standards, legal requirements and relevant regulations.
• Maintain Care Skills by undertaking training and development as required to maintain best practice.

Location

• Guisborough and surrounding area (within 5 miles)

Main Duties

1. Provide care and support to Service Users in their own homes.
2. Develop positive relationships with Service Users.
3. Develop effective working relationships with other Moonrise 24hr employees.
4. Support an open, positive and inclusive working culture.
5. Solve day-to-day problems and issues which can arise.
6. Implement actions to meet and maintain Care Standards.
7. Encourage a model of self-care and Service User Rehabilitation where appropriate.
8. Ensures Service Users rights are protected.
9. Work in co-operation with members of multi-disciplinary health teams in order to maximise opportunities for Service User Therapeutic Care.
10. Encourage innovative methods for the delivery of Care.
11. Record relevant activities in Care Plans and Service User notes.
12. Take Service User on outings into the Community

Essential Requirements

• Full driving license and access to own vehicle.

Desired Requirements

• NVQ Level 2 or equivalent or be willing to work towards this qualification.
• Qualification to administer medication.
• Six months experience in a care setting.
• PEG Feed Training and Experience.

With all the new expansions taking place at Moonrise in the coming months we have a need to recruit workers in the Social Care Sector.

We are looking for people with the right attitude and experience to join the Moonrise team!

There has been some very exciting times here at the Moonrise Office, we have been working hard preparing to expand and are delighted to officially announce that we are opening a new branch in Yorkshire early in 2017!

We will be providing staff to homes across the Sheffield, Rotherham, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Castleford areas.

As a result of this we are looking for staff across Yorkshire who are passionate and dedicated to delivering high quality service to join the Moonrise team in the area. For more information please visit our Working for Us page where you can also download an application pack.

We are looking to take on more staff here at Moonrise 24hr Recruitment. Why not join us?

Are you caring and compassionate?

Are you an experienced registered Nurse, Health Care Assistant or Support Worker?

Would you like competitive rates of pay?

Are you interested in guaranteed hours?

Are you interested in free training and development to help accelerate your career?

If you have answered yes to the above questions then why not join Moonrise 24th Recruitment?

Apply Today!

Following the introduction of Revalidation for Nurses by the NMC here at Moonrise we are working together with our nurses to support them through the preparation of their portfolios so that evidence can be submitted in time and all nurses retain their registrations.

What is Revalidation?

Revalidation is the new process that all nurses and midwives in the UK will need to follow to maintain their registration with the NMC.

It started in April 2016, and is straightforward and will help you as a nurse or midwife demonstrate that you practise safely and effectively. It will encourage you to reflect on the role of the Code in your practice and demonstrate that you are ‘living’ the standards set out within it.

This new process replaces the Prep requirements, and you will have to revalidate every three years in order to renew your registration.

You will need to submit your application for revalidation online, so it’s very important that you have an NMC Online account. If you haven’t already, you can set up your NMC Online account here.

The NMC will make reasonable adjustments for you if you have a disability which means that you may find using NMC Online difficult. They also have special arrangements in place for you if you cannot meet the revalidation requirements because of exceptional circumstances. For more information about reasonable adjustments and exceptional circumstances please see our guidance sheet.

The Requirements

• 450 practice hours, or 900 if you are renewing as both a nurse and midwife
• 35 hours of CPD including 20 hours of participatory learning
• Five pieces of practice-related feedback
• Five written reflective accounts
• Reflective Discussion
• Health and character declaration
• Professional indemnity arrangement
• Confirmation

For further information visit the NMC Revalidation Website

The past few months have been very hectic at Moonrise 24hr Recruitment as we look at formulating our plan for moving forward in the year ahead.

We are looking to grow the business by marketing our service more to the private sector and local authorities by tendering to both GP’s and the NHS, hopefully this will spread the word out about Moonrise and more business will come our way!

We are looking to gain more business in home care and live in care for individuals who need support to stay in their own home and still lead as full a life as possible.

This being said we are looking for caring and considerate people with experience in care to join our team.  If you want to apply to join Moonrise then please click here to access the Working for Us page where you can download an application form.

New Staff Members to Moonrise

Over the past couple of weeks we have added new faces to the head office of Moonrise in the shape of Sarah and Steven.

They join the team as administrators alongside current Apprentices Akash and Afsha.

Jessica will still be based in the office to oversee the team as everyone settles into their new roles.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook

Our new administrator Sarah has been placed in charge of our social media and is working at the moment to expand the Facebook page. Please check out the page and like us to stay even more up to date with what is happening at Moonrise 24hr Recruitment.