Meet our Mental Health First Aiders – #SupportStartsHere

This month, we are focusing on the importance of our the mental health and well-being support that we offer here at MerseyCare Julie Ann. We have a number of different support outlets for our all of our colleagues to provide them with guidance and reassurance if they are suffering with their mental health, and one of them is support from our Mental Health First Aiders. So, shall we meet them? First, let’s meet Loren – our Compliance Manager here at MCJA. Loren has been with us for many years, and takes pride in her role as a Compliance Manager and Mental Health First Aider. She is always hands on and is incredibly loved around the office, and with our care staff. We asked her all about her role as a MHFA, so let’s here what she had to say!

“What is your role as a MHFA and what training did you complete? Why is it important to you?”

“My role as a mental health first aider is so important to me. I want everyone to know it’s ok to not be ok and reaching out isn’t a sign of weakness, but strength. We work in such a fast paced environment, it can become overwhelming so quickly. And that’s ok! I first took an interest in mental health because of one of the employees at MCJA who came to me for advice. I was just a friendly face. I wasn’t trained to deal with mental health at the time, but I always think “Wwhat would I want someone to do for me if it was me?” She was in a dark place and I tried every possible avenue to get her help and support from trained professionals, but it was so apparent that mental health providers were so underfunded. The waiting lists were insane! She didn’t need help in 6 months, she needed it now! With the help of the Registered Manager at the time, we managed to provide her some much needed support. I expressed my interest to the Registered Manager and she enrolled me on a Level 3 with St John Ambulance to become a Mental Health First Aider. I was so proud of myself when I passed, as mental health is something I am so passionate about. In the future I would love to enhance this training further. Being trained in mental health helps me with so many aspects of my job as a whole. At lot of people don’t know, but I’ve recently been diagnosed with high functioning anxiety. I’ve always known something was “wrong” but it’s nice to finally have it in black and white. I have panic attacks quite a lot and I overthink every possible scenario imaginable when something happens. I’m not ashamed of it. I’m proud of myself for how far I’ve come, despite it. We need to break the stigma that comes with mental health and the only way we can do that is by talking about it. As for that employee….she doesn’t work for MCJA anymore, as she perused other avenues, but she wrote me a beautiful letter thanking me after she was in a better place. I cried my eyes out reading it. She probably doesn’t know she inspired me to become a mental health first aider, but she did. She’s now someone I would class as a close friend and I’m so incredibly proud of her. She’s due to be a first time mum and I know she will be a fantastic one.” In her own words, she stated: “I wish I could just spread fairy dust around to make everyone feel better.” This is what mental health support looks like!

What is the role of MHFA?

Mental Health First Aiders have multiple responsibilities, such as:

• Signposting colleagues to appropriate places for support
• Keeping staff safe, both mentally and physically
• Looking out for signs of ill mental health in staff
• Encouraging positivity in the workplace
• Being the first point of contact for colleagues suffering with their mental health.

Further information

For further information regarding the role of Mental Health First Aiders and the training they complete, please visit MFHA England’s website here. If you are a colleague, and looking to get in contact with the office for mental health support, please visit our ‘Contact’ page here.