NHS Scotland workers will be given access to wellbeing apps as part of a new £8 million package to support their mental health.
Humza Yousaf revealed the initiative to help boost staff morale in the wake of the pandemic in an interview with the Sunday Mail.
The Health Secretary said: “There will be services for mental health assessment as well as coaching and apps.
“I use a mindfulness app myself on occasion and it does wonders to focus my head when I need it, so I am really pleased with this announcement. The resilience of the workforce is going to be a massive priority for us.
“During the pandemic many staff have had to deal with some really traumatic situations and we need to support them.
“We owe them a great debt of gratitude for their continued hard work, commitment and professionalism. We are committed to supporting our NHS and social care staff now and into the future.”
The budget allocation of £8 million for wellbeing support in 2021/22 represents an increase of £3 million on 2020/21.
The Scottish Government has said it will help finance the continued development of a National Wellbeing programme consisting of a National Wellbeing Hub and National Wellbeing Helpline, as well as psychological counselling and therapy.
Part of the scheme will also be to create “rest spaces” within hospitals and to provide wellbeing apps for staff.
Workers in social care will be targeted specifically with £2 million of support “in recognition of the specific needs in responding to the pandemic.”
Yousaf added: “The wellbeing of staff will influence the way our health and social services recover.
“We know that the pandemic has affected staff in a range of ways and this £8 million package of support will help us meet the basic practical and emotional needs which workers tell us are right for them, alongside more specialised mental health support where this is needed.
“The crucial frontline role of social work and social care going forward is underlined by the targeted support it will receive as part of this package.”
Poor mental health is among the leading reasons for NHS staff sickness absences in Scotland, new figures reveal as concerns grow over workplace pressures.
A Freedom of Information request carried out by the Scottish Liberal Democrats last year shows that, since 2016, more than 45 million hours of NHS staff time in Scotland have been lost to illness.
As part of this, 12 out of 14 health boards in the country reported “anxiety, depression, other psychiatric illness” as the most common reason for staff absences.
The exceptions were Western Isles and Highland, which listed mental health issues as one of the top three reasons for absence.
Yousaf has also promised to make recruitment an NHS priority.
Last week a whistleblower told how she believed patient safety was being compromised by short staffing.
