#SelfcareinHealthcare is bringing the industry together during COVID-19.
In alignment with the Federal Government’s mental health initiative #inthistogether, Health Industry Hub media, creative agency Orchard and West 53rd St Digital have joined forces to launch a social media initiative #SelfcareinHealthcare specifically focussing on supporting the pharmaceuticals, medical technology and biotechnology industry professionals.
The goal is to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing in the COVID-19 environment and beyond, providing access to quality resources.
Just as the COVID-19 crisis is affecting frontline healthcare workers and healthcare professionals, it also has the potential to impact the Australian pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and medical technology industries as they respond to the turbulent new environment.
Internally, there are large scale changes across workplaces and home lives as most industry professionals are working remotely and the majority of field force teams have been grounded since March 2020.
Many organisations have also been impacted by supply chain disruptions, delay in clinical trials, decline in patient visits in hospitals and clinics, and interruptions in drug or medical device approvals.
In addition, as these industries pivot to meet the new needs of healthcare professionals, there are added pressures to fast track the rollout and utilisation of new digital technologies.
“It’s really important we work together to flatten the mental health curve. I think this is a pivotal time for our industry to collaborate in a bipartisan way to help each other build and maintain resilience together as we transition to the new normal,” West 53rd St Digital managing director Peter Stephenson says.
The Selfcare In Healthcare initiative aims to build awareness of the importance of mental health, provide access to support tools and offer an industry network for self-help.
Organisations and individuals can participate and support the initiative by sharing the LinkedIn page with their colleagues, peers and network, as well as on their owned media channels.
“The healthcare industry has been my home for the last 20 years. First-hand, I have seen peers who have been impacted by poor mental health and the long journey to recovery for them and their loved ones," Health Industry Hub founder and director Rozalina Sarkezians says.
"I know that if we come together to support each other, we will be at our strongest."
The objective is to activate 4,000 industry professionals to support peers and colleagues by building awareness of the resources that exist through Selfcare In Healthcare and reach around a further 40,000 industry professionals.
“Everyone’s mental health has been affected by COVID-19 and our industry isn’t immune. We need to show our peers and colleagues that it’s alright to show vulnerability and raise awareness of tools to manage this," Orchard managing partner Wai Kwok says.
"We’ve set up a LinkedIn group to mobilise and share the ideas around this, so as an industry we can all be better equipped."
The Selfcare In Health initiative has already gained the support of leading research-based medicine organisation, Medicines Australia.
“Medicines Australia is supportive of this important awareness-raising initiative," Medicines Australia CEO Elizabeth de Somer says.
"Looking after your mental health and wellbeing is important for all Australians and due to COVID-19, we are seeing mental health stressors amplified. Having a mental health resource hub specifically designed for the Pharma, MedTech and Biotech industries will provide industry professionals with support and resources that are tailored to their needs.”
