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By: Caitlund Davidson, Health Promotion and Communications Planner, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre

Throughout the pandemic, health care workers have been constantly adapting and taking on new challenges in order to keep our hospitals and communities safe. As rates of burnout among staff increased and morale began declining, the need to promote kindness and show gratitude to staff at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC) became evident.

Over the last two years, kindness has become a common theme at TBRHSC. It started with a simple gesture from a group of five staff members in early 2021. They created the Undercover Kindness Mission to spread kindness throughout TBRHSC, boost morale, and let their colleagues know that their hard work has not gone unnoticed. The group began writing kind, heart-shaped notes, providing words of encouragement and thanking the staff for everything they do. These handwritten notes were placed randomly on the windshields of cars in TBRHSC's staff parking lots, sent through inter-office mail and taped in other public locations to be found by unsuspecting staff members.

 "With pandemic restrictions in place, we were unable to hold on-site or in-person wellness events for staff. The Undercover Kindness Mission seemed like the perfect opportunity to reach both clinical and non-clinical staff," explained Kelly-Jo Gillis, Manager, Preventive Health Services at TBRHSC. "During times of stress and change, it's even more important not to forget or overlook the importance of being kind. One small act of kindness can make someone's day, and at the same time, contribute to creating a culture of kindness in our hospital and community."

Often, we walk by those who feel disconnected from the world, lost and alone. Random acts of kindness, like these heart-shaped notes, have been proven to boost our mood and mental health. They can make people feel connected, have a sense of purpose, and let them know that they are appreciated.

"It had been a busy day and I was looking forward to going home to unwind. As I got to my vehicle, I saw the note under the windshield wiper. Reading it instantly brought a feeling of comfort and relief," shared a TBRHSC employee. "Times have been tough. It meant a lot to see that people are still showing compassion for others. It also inspired me to pay it forward because I wanted someone else to feel the same happiness and love that I felt receiving the note."

Spreading kindness did not stop there. Kindness Carts began making their rounds at TBRHSC to boost morale, and demonstrate gratitude and support to staff, professional staff, volunteers, and learners.  

"Many hospitals across Ontario have brought this initiative into their workplace, in order to show appreciation and support for their staff," said Gillis. "When speaking to representatives from these hospitals, the impact that Kindness Carts have been having was evident; each hospital reported the same positive impact to their staff."

In partnership with Human Resources, and thanks to funding provided by Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, the Kindness Carts became a reality at TBRHSC. The carts, loaded with healthy snacks, personal care items, and wellness information, began visiting all of the departments at TBRHSC during day, night and weekend shifts to ensure that all staff had the opportunity to experience a small gesture of kindness.

Remember, spreading kindness is not limited to these heart-shaped notes and carts filled with goodies. It can even be as simple as saying hello to a stranger, holding the door open, or wishing someone a great day. Sometimes it's the smallest gesture that has the biggest impact on someone's day.