Mental health first aid, what is it?
Over the last few years, we have seen a rapid increase in mental health first aid courses but what is it and is it any good?
We all have physical health and if something happens that causes harm to our physical health, we have workplace first aiders there to help. It’s the same with mental health first aiders.
They’re not doctors or therapists and aren’t there to fix anything – Just like a physical first aider won’t set a broken leg or close a wound. However, they do have specific training to recognise when someone is in mental distress and provide support in a way that is genuinely helpful.
They do this by:
- Providing an opportunity to speak confidentially.
- Provide crucial comfort & support.
- Work out what the best next steps are for you and how to get started.
The goal is simple: To leave that conversation feeling in a better place than you went into it.
“But what good does talking do?”
This is a common question, in short, talking can do a huge amount of good. In fact, the entire field of psychiatry is built on the power of talking.
Often, we become so overwhelmed with what’s going on that it becomes difficult to identify individual thoughts, feelings, actions, or tasks. Sometimes it’s a case of simply laying everything out on the table so it’s easier to understand or maybe we identify something that helps us to see it in a different light or clearer
Speaking with a mental health first aider gives us the opportunity to do this in an environment where we don’t need to worry about what we say or how we say it.
What you speak about depends on whatever you have going on, it might be stresses at home, money worries, stress at work or even thoughts of hurting yourself.
HOW CAN I FIND A MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDER?
We are proud that we have mental health first aiders on the team and also team members around the country who you can reach out to for extra support.
Sam Mansfield
Safeguarding and development
Email: sam@abacustraininggroup.co.uk
Phone: 0208 144 5693
John Fields
Financial Lead
Email: johnf@abacustraininggroup.co.uk
Phone: 01273 514414
We are always training up new members to become mental health aware so please do not hesitate to contact us for more information about both your needs but also those of your family and friends – let’s all look out for one an another.
6 top tips for getting support
1. WRITE IT DOWN
2. tAKE THE PRESSURE OFF
3. sCHEDULE IT IN
4. bE OPEN
5. tAKE SOME TIME
6. Keeping it hush
Weekly Wellbeing Tip
Gratitude can be a really powerful tool to boost your wellbeing. Once a day take a moment to write down something you’re grateful for in life. Try it for a week.
We are proud that we have mental health first aiders on the team and also team members around the country who you can reach out to for extra support.
