NMHPV
Over the 2018–19 year, the Nursing & Midwifery Health Program supported nearly 250 new clients needing support with mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and family violence issues.
Eighty new clients were nurses and midwives, and nursing and midwifery students, from regional and rural areas of Victoria.
NMPHV is a nurse-run service providing free, personalised and confidential counselling and support to nurses and midwives, and nursing and midwifery students. The new clients in 2018–19 approached NMHPV for support over anxiety, stress management, substance use, workplace trauma and family violence.
NMHPV supported 63 per cent of clients to remain at work and 30 per cent to return to work, and supported a small number of colleagues with a career change or transition to retirement.
Over 2018–19, NMHPV trained 45 ‘Champions’ from 12 health services, taking the total to over 550 across Victoria. The Champions spread the word about the services of NMHPV within their organisations, ensuring that nurses and midwives know where they can access support over issues relating to mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and family violence.
NMHPV also took several hundred phone calls from nurses, midwives and others seeking information, guidance and support.
Read about how the NMHPV supported ‘Chris’*, an associate nurse unit manager working in an emergency department of a public hospital, who was struggling with burnout and stress, and whose alcohol use was spiralling out of control.
*not her real name
