Hear from our Deputy Head of Mental Health and Behaviour Support, Alan Dalzell, about our Mental Health First Aider initiative and how it supports colleague health and wellbeing.
Every year, our Mental Health First Aiders support hundreds of colleagues, as well as providing informal advice to many more in their workplace.
Our mental health affects how we think, feel, and act. It often determines how we handle stress, interact with others and perform at work.
Care work is extremely rewarding – you’re making a difference each and every day. However, it can also be inherently stressful.
As part of our health and wellbeing programme, we invest in training so that each of our care homes has at least one qualified Mental Health First Aider (MHFA).
It’s really important that our colleagues know that they have someone to talk to.
What is mental health first aid?
Mental health first aid is the support provided to people who are experiencing mental ill-health or a crisis such as:
anxiety
depression and mood orders
panic attacks
stress
trauma.
It teaches people to recognise the signs of poor mental health, how to self-care and where to find further support.
The staff I have supported have thanked me for the advice and the signposting to additional support. The staff member said they would not have known who to speak to in the past regards their pressing situation. They stated that the support offered and received from the Mental Health First Aider had stopped them from leaving the company as they realised how supportive Exemplar Health Care is.
What is the role of a Mental Health First Aider?
Our Mental Health First Aiders are trained by Mental Health First Aid England.
Their role is to listen to colleagues experiencing mental ill-health, reassure them and signpost them to the relevant support.
They also play an important role in educating people on good self-care to prevent mental ill-health.
Some of our Mental Health First Aiders have started wellbeing initiatives in their homes, such as Wellbeing Wednesdays and ‘tea and natter’ mornings.
We give time to people so they can talk and let things out. We don't try to fix things – most of the time, just listening, guiding and being there with someone is helpful in itself. I'm here to talk when a colleague needs someone to listen - this opens the door without pressuring someone to share on the spot.
Who can access support from a Mental Health First Aider?
Every Exemplar Health Care colleague can access a Mental Health First Aider.
Most of our care homes and our head office have at least one Mental Health First Aider on site.
Opportunities to become a Mental Health First Aider
As we continue to grow and invest in colleague health and wellbeing initiatives, we’re always looking for more colleagues to become Mental Health First Aiders.
Anyone, in any role, can become a Mental Health First Aider.
This is a nationally recognised qualification that not only benefits you at work, but in your personal life too.
A happy and healthy workforce is essential for providing high quality care. Read about our commitment to colleague health and wellbeing.
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