November 12th is the first ever national Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) day.
This invaluable qualification provides training to support mental health in a manner comparable to how a physical first aider supports physical health. Like a physical first aider, MHFAiders are trained to provide a first response in high-pressure crisis situations, including suicidal ideation or behaviour, panic attacks and psychosis.
We are proud to host a network of MHFAiders at EiB, who support our staff to live and work healthily and happily. To celebrate the occasion, we asked our MHFAiders to share their stories and reflect on the impact their skills are having in the work winning industry and beyond.
Why is being a MHFAider important to you?
Richard: Being a MHFAider is important to me as it means I can support colleagues (and family/friends) when they might be struggling with something. I find it rewarding as it helps to reduce the stigma around mental health and enables me to make a positive difference, even if only in small ways.
Tali: Often, mental health isn’t recognised on the same level as physical health – the role of a MHFAider reflects the importance of supporting people’s mental health at all times, but particularly when people are in crisis.
Charles: It gives me the tools to help the people around me in a constructive way, providing concrete steps on how best to listen, understand, and support people without judgement.
Poppy: As well as providing practical skills to support the community around me, being a proud MHFAider helps to reduce the stigma around mental health. Using neutral language, and treating mental health as equally deserving of help as our physical health, I hope the MHFA qualification prompts others to think about mental health in everyday, non-stigmatised terms.
How do you use your MHFA skills at work/outside of work?
Richard: I use my MHFA skills to ‘check in’ with colleagues, listen without judgment, offer impartial advice and encourage them to open up to others, as appropriate. Outside of work, I find the same skills help me be more empathetic and supportive with my family and friends.
Tali: The MHFA course emphasised that, often, just listening is enough – it’s not about fixing peoples’ problems. I think I’ve carried this into my personal and professional lives.
Charles: MHFA gives me a framework to listen to coworkers and friends without applying my own biases and beliefs to their situations. It gives a space for people to talk through the stresses of the job or everyday life, and the practical next steps to support them if they need it.
Poppy: Mental ill health can interface with work in very challenging ways, so I use my MHFA skills to promote an open, honest environment that helps people know they’re not alone.
How did you find your MHFA training? Was it enjoyable, surprising, difficult?
Richard: I found the training enjoyable and engaging. It was somewhat of an eye-opening emotional and introduced me practical some tools as well as the confidence to have conversations about mental health that I might have avoided before.
Tali: I was surprised to find it so enjoyable – our trainer was very engaging and brought humour into the experience. It’s a known fact that you learn much more when you’re smiling.
Charles: The MHFA training, led by Simon, was dynamic and compelling, with specific examples of situations where we should (and most importantly, shouldn’t) use the process he taught to support people in need. Simon didn’t soften the seriousness of people’s mental health, but treated us like adults who had made the choice to learn, even when the topics became uncomfortable.
Poppy: I found our MHFA training really engaging, and very practical. Simon modelled a relationship with mental health that was non-judgemental and objective, while remaining humorous and approachable.
Do your skills as a MHFAider help you to support your own mental health?
Richard: The training has made me more aware of my own wellbeing and the importance of being aware of it. I am more aware of my own mental health and own I can manage it more effectively than I was before.
Tali: I think so – the course reminded me that you’re unable to support other people if you don’t look after yourself first.
Charles: Absolutely, the core tenets of patience, understanding, and listening without judging apply just as much to your own mental health as other peoples’. It helps to slow down and think how you would respond if a friend or coworker came to you with the same thoughts, making sure you treat yourself with the same goodwill you would someone else.
Poppy: Yes – the qualification reminds me to stop and check in with my mental health, and take positive action to manage emerging stresses as I would emerging physical health concerns.
What is one habit, practice or step you take to support your own wellbeing?
Richard: I try to make time every day for a short walk or break away from my desk to ‘reset’, clear my mind and manage any stress I may be feeling.
Tali: Going to yoga at least three times a week supports my wellbeing – it’s a rare chance to switch off from the outside world and focus on myself.
Charles: I like to keep myself busy with a lot of ongoing projects which I put time aside for each day. This helps me feel a sense of progress and fulfilment outside of work, putting the tough times in perspective and letting me look back and see what I’ve accomplished even when it doesn’t feel like it.
Poppy: As the dark nights draw in, I make an effort to get out for a walk in the morning or over lunch. It makes the world feel a little bigger when you’re working from home and it’s dark by the time you log off!