In The Sick Of It - what next?
Audience Information
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What can I do?
1. Join the Campaign
We are supporting the British Psychological Society campaign to protect the future of NHS staff mental health and wellbeing services. Read more here.
You can help by writing to your MP to ask them to prioritise investment in staff mental health and wellbeing support for NHS and Social Care staff living and working in their constituency.
Download a template letter to write to your MP HERE.
Find your MP's contact details here.
2. Five small things that make a BIG difference
We asked healthcare workers what practical things we can do to make a difference, and this is what they said:
i. Be Nice!
Please be nice to staff in healthcare settings. It can be stressful when seeking
medical assistance for yourself or a loved one, and health workers will also be
feeling the pressure of their environment. Aggression from patients is one of
the major causes of staff leaving their jobs and therefore putting further
pressure on the service. Please be nice!
ii. Say thank you.
Whilst staff don’t expect to be thanked, many have commented how rare it is
to hear the words ‘thank you’ recently.
iii. Going private versus advocating for a fair service.
Be mindful about going private. Whilst many make the argument that going
private helps relieve pressure on the NHS, it creates a two-tier system. The
beauty of the NHS is that everyone is treated equally, and it’s a shame to
deviate from this founding principle. Better to try and advocate for
improvements across the entire system.
iv. Write to your local elected representatives.
Communicate with your local councillor and MP. Making your voice heard is a
powerful way to ensure policy makers can gauge public opinion. Voice your
support for policies that make a difference to you, and equally write an email
when you feel passionately against a direction of travel.
The politics of healthcare affects us all! Let your voice be part of the
conversation. Better still, get involved with a local campaigning group in your
area. Participation = power.
v. Look after yourself.
Look after yourself! A good diet, exercise and being mindful of harmful
behaviour helps to put less pressure on the system.
3. Stay in the conversation
We would love you to stay in the conversation. We understand that feelings, thoughts and reactions may come up after you have left the theatre. Please feel free to post these online using the hashtag #InTheSickOfIt to share your thoughts and opinions. Some of these will be read out during post-performance events.
If you have any questions or comments about the show, or our work with NHS and Social Care staff, please be in touch via the form below. We value feedback from our audiences and want to know what you think.
Contact us to tell us your thoughts
4. Come to our post-show events
Dates: Saturday 10, Thursday 15 and Thursday 22 August
Times: 13:30-14:30
Location: Treehouse Bar, Assembly George Square Studios
Feeling a bit frazzled rushing from performance to performance...? Want some time to pause and reflect on what you have just seen...? This is a unique opportunity to talk to the cast and crew and other members of the audience, giving you an in-depth understanding of the experience and a chance to process what you’ve seen.
Saturday 10 August, 13:30-14:30:
Post-show event with Dr Sue Gibbons, Clinical Psychologist & Narrativist
and Dr Heidi Edmundson, Emergency Medicine Consultant
Wake The Beast's Artistic Director Adam McGuigan and actor Kemi Coker are joined by colleagues from Whittington Health NHS Trust to explore some of the ideas behind the show.
Sue collaborated with Wake The Beast to develop the staff support project 'In Our Own Words' at Whittington Health NHS Trust when the pandemic struck. 'In Our Own Words' uses creative activities and verbatim theatre to open up the conversation about staff mental health, and has been a source of healing for staff with performances supported by psychologist-led reflective sessions.
Heidi is an Emergency Medicine Consultant at Whittington Health NHS Trust, member of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and a writer. Heidi uses creative activities with her A&E team to facilitate staff wellbeing and positive workplace cultures. Her verbatim experiences are included in the performance, and she is a champion of 'In Our Own Words'.
Thursday 15 August, 13:30-14:30:
Wake The Beast's Artistic Director Adam McGuigan and actor Kemi Coker are joined by Producer Sophie Branscombe to explore themes and issues raised in the show.
Sophie joined the team in 2021, project managing variations of 'In Our Own Words' with three London NHS Trusts and four care homes. Previously Sophie ran an Arts, Health & Wellbeing Innovation Programme at King's College London which brought together academics, healthcare professionals and cultural partners to generate arts-based solutions to healthcare challenges, and explore new ways to improve mental health.
Thursday 22 August, 13:30-14:30:
Wake The Beast's Artistic Director Adam McGuigan and actor Cassandra Hercules to explore themes and issues raised in the show. Just after the show in the Assembly George Square Bar.
5. Help spread the word about 'In The Sick Of It'!
Please help us to reach as many people as possible! We would love you to tell others about our show in person, on social media, and through posting a review on In the Sick of It | Theatre | Edinburgh Festival Fringe (edfringe.com).
6. Get Support
If the performance has stirred up some challenging emotions or memories for you, you may wish to create some space for yourself by talking it over with a trusted friend, ally or colleague. Or it can help to take some quiet time for yourself to reflect, breathe, walk, write, draw, meditate....whatever helps you to feel calm and grounded.
If you need further help, here are some useful links to support services.
Support for Everyone:
Shout 85258
Shout 85258 offers confidential 24/7 crisis text support for times when you need immediate assistance:
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text "SHOUT" to 85258
NHS Talking Therapies – England only
If you live in England and are registered with a GP, in most arears you can refer yourself for free, non-urgent NHS talking therapies.
These are effective and confidential treatments open to everyone, delivered by fully trained and accredited NHS practitioners. They can help with common mental health problems like stress, anxiety and depression.
Samaritans
When life is tough, Samaritans are here to listen at any time of the day or night. You can talk to them about anything that's troubling you, no matter how difficult:
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call free on 116 123
Support for Medical, Social care and Frontline workers:
National Wellbeing Hub (Scotland)
Do you work in Health and Social Care in Scotland and need support?
The National Wellbeing Hub is here to help: https://wellbeinghub.scot/find-help/
Healthcare Workers' Foundation (UK)
Are you a healthcare worker anywhere in the UK who needs support?
The Healthcare Workers' Foundation is here to help.
Doctors in Distress
UK based independent charity that promotes and protects the mental health of all healthcare workers and prevents suicides in the medical profession.
https://doctors-in-distress.org.uk/
Practitioner Health
Free, confidential NHS primary care mental health and addiction service with expertise in treating health & care professionals.
https://www.practitionerhealth.nhs.uk/
Frontline19
Free and confidential psychological support for NHS & Frontline Workers in patient facing roles in the UK, including doctors, nurses, auxiliary staff, paramedics, ambulance staff, midwives, social workers, care home staff, emergency call handlers, firefighters and police officers.
BMA Support Line
Free and confidential 24/7 counselling line and peer support service open to all doctors and medical students on 0330 123 1245.
https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/your-wellbeing
None of these are emergency mental health services. In an emergency call 999 or visit the nearest hospital Accident & Emergency (A&E) Department.
'IN THE SICK OF IT '- our work continues…
We are continuing our work with healthcare staff across the country by offering bespoke performances and workshops for NHS Trusts and Social Care organisations. The workshops allow participants to find their voice and share experiences with colleagues through creative and engaging sessions. The focus is on staff wellbeing with sessions run by Wake The Beast actors using a range of therapeutic and creative activities aimed at getting the conversations going and generating change.
#INTHESICKOFIT