A SERVICE to help health staff reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing has helped almost 500 people in its first year.

Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, a provider of community and mental health services, launched its Staff Wellbeing Service in September 2014 to support its 6,000 staff across Trafford, Bury, Rochdale, Stockport, Oldham and Tameside.

The service provides phone support, group sessions and one to one therapy for staff experiencing common mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, or difficulties coping with issues like bereavement, stress or other changes in their lives that are affecting them at work.

Research shows sickness costs the NHS an estimated £2.4 billion per year and mental health difficulties are among the top causes of absence.

Pennine Care’s Staff Wellbeing Service is aimed at supporting staff to stay in work, rather than having prolonged periods of sick leave or helping them to return to work following an absence.

It has been delivered by staff working in the Trust’s mental health services since September 2014, when the Trust made the decision a year ago to bring these support services in-house to build on the existing expertise of staff.

Since launching, the service has had referrals from 480 staff.

Service Manager Katie Kay said the feedback from staff had been overwhelmingly positive.