Tips from our Mental Health first aider

My journey as a mental health training instructor

We all have Mental Health and just like our physical health it needs looking after.  One in four people will experience poor mental health in any given year according to NHS England [1]. Poor mental health impacts our daily living and how we relate and interact with those around us.

You don’t need to be a specialist in this area to know that someone you know whether through work, social or family may be going through poor mental health. This was the reason I trained as a Mental health First Aid Instructor.  

A few years back, a close family member started to display signs which I know now were the early signs of a mental illness. At the time I didn’t recognise them, I just knew there were behavioural and emotional extremes but didn’t really know what to do or who to speak to.  

I hadn’t been aware or had any understanding of poor mental health and illness, so when asked if training as an instructor was something I was interested in, I jumped at the chance.  I wanted to be better equipped with knowledge, to recognise the signs and know what help was available, but more than that, I wanted to help raise awareness.

I do think we are now talking about this topic more. In the media you have celebrities openly saying about their struggles with their mental health, whereas previously it would have been cited as they are ‘stepping down due to personal reasons’.

The stigma around talking about mental health

Society’s attitudes and support for people with poor mental health should be fundamentally the same as for physical illness, so why then does it feel the reverse holds more truth? Why are Mental Health and Physical Health treated differently? One of the reasons for this lies firmly with stigma.

Stigma can lead to:

• People hiding their difficulties from others
• Stop people from seeking help because of concerns about what others think
• Fear of judgment
• Exclusion from employment, social activities, having relationships
• People who experience poor mental health are reluctant to talk about it.

Creating safe spaces to talk about mental health

Under the umbrella of inclusion, we often talk about language, how it matters, and how it has an impact on others. The language we use daily can make a real difference in the way we contribute to or reduce stigma and discrimination.  

Lack of knowledge may result in people avoiding or not responding to someone with poor mental health, not knowing where to seek help or what kind of help might be useful. It is all our responsibility to help reduce stigma.

One of the ways we can do this is to create an environment where people feel safe to talk about their mental health whether at work or outside of work and not feel as if they will be judged.

Many organisations now have in place Mental Health First Aiders but not all as currently, it is a recommendation but not legislation. The role of a Mental Health First Aider is to be a point of contact for an employee who is experiencing a mental health issue. Some of their responsibilities are to spot the early signs and symptoms of poor mental health, listen non judgementally, and start a conversation.

Some tips for starting a conversation include:

• Think about the setting and consider where they are most comfortable
• Keep body language open and non-confrontational
• Be empathetic and take them seriously
• Listen to their words, tone of voice and observe body language
• Be genuine

Mental Health First Aiders should be approachable, impartial, non-judgemental, empathetic and a skilled listener. They are there to support a person and if appropriate signpost to appropriate professional help. Mental Health First aiders give employees someone to turn to when they are struggling with their well-being.

Businesses need to ensure they are looking after the mental health of their staff both for employee well-being and business success. Training people in mental health awareness and skills to support colleagues with mental health issues at work helps to build an open and supportive culture around mental health.

If you would like Inclusive Employers to deliver mental health training to your organisation, please speak to your account manager or get in touch. From webinars to bespoke training to our internationally recognised Adult Mental Health First Aid 2-day course, there are different ways we can support you.

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